Many modern devices use Bluetooth. This is a short-range wireless technology. Devices talk to each other using radio waves.
We often hear about Bluetooth for wireless earbuds. You can also use it to connect tablets or number pads to your MacBook.
With many features, you might want to keep Bluetooth on. But is this safe? The answer is maybe. It depends on your devices.
Some smart home devices need Bluetooth to connect. If you turn it off, you can't control them. You also won't get alerts from them.
Plus, without Bluetooth, you can't get smartwatch notifications. You also can't sync health data.
Leaving Bluetooth On Has Risks
Convenience is good. But there is a downside. Bluetooth is a non-physical access point to your device. This means it's an extra entry point. Hackers could use it to access your personal information.
Hackers have already used Bluetooth flaws for cyberattacks. If you are in a crowded place with your phone, you might connect to an unknown device. There is a small chance you let your device connect to a hacker's tool.
Once connected, hackers can install malware. They can create a backdoor on your phone. This lets them spy on calls. They can steal passwords and other private data.
Some advanced malware can use open Bluetooth ports. They don't need a pairing process. The "BlueBorne" virus in 2017 spread widely. It infected phones and smart light bulbs.
You might think leaving Bluetooth on drains your battery fast. This is only partly true. Bluetooth has improved. Makers create receivers that use very little power.
But "very little power" is not "no power." Bluetooth still needs some electricity. It uses more when it constantly looks for devices. Turning it off when not needed can help your battery last longer.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Most of the time, you can probably leave Bluetooth on. The battery impact is small. The chance of a hacker attack is very low.
But even that small chance can be bad. It is better to be careful.
You don't have to turn Bluetooth off always. But doing so can stop potential hackers. It removes an attack path.
If you hear about malware attacking devices via Bluetooth, turn it off. Do this for your phone or laptop in public. Losing your credit card data is not worth listening to podcasts.
If you want to keep Bluetooth on while traveling, use common sense. If a pairing request comes from a device you don't own, do not accept it. This is true even if you receive a file via Bluetooth.
You can go a step further. Turn off "discoverable" mode. Without this mode, no other device can find your Bluetooth signal. No pairing requests will come to you.