Bluetooth is a handy feature that allows you to easily connect up your various devices, whether you’re trying to get your new wireless headphones to talk to your Android phone or connecting your Apple Watch to your iPhone. Bluetooth could also get you caught in the crossfire of teenagers sharing selfies with strangers, if you’re not lucky. As convenient as Bluetooth can be, there are some unpleasant consequences to keeping it on all the time if you aren’t actively—or ever—using it.
When you leave Bluetooth on, you’re opening up your device to potential issues given the myriad of security concerns that come with the technology. It’s incredibly convenient when you need to, say, stream music over to a nearby speaker, but you should treat it like a light switch: When you’re done using it, turn it off. If you don’t use it at all, don’t leave it on.
Security researchers always seem to be uncovering issues that leave phones, smart TVs, and even cars vulnerable to attack via some Bluetooth issue—and these flaws don’t always have quick resolutions. For example, a vulnerability known as BlueBorne, identified in 2017 by security research firm Armis, was still putting many device users at risk more than a year after the initial discovery.
A BlueBorne attack gave a hacker control of (and the chance to steal data from) Bluetooth-enabled devices, even if it the device wasn’t connected to anything when the attack began. Plus, BlueBorne attacks could spread from device to device. (While attackers technically need to be in Bluetooth range of your phone to pull something like this off, approximately within 33 feet or so, they can get some extra distance when there are other infected devices around as well.)
That all said, you might not be able to turn off Bluetooth if you’re actively using it with, say, your car (or your smartwatch). This is why it’s also critical to stay on top of updating your devices. Updates often include patches for security flaws, including Bluetooth issues, so if you’ve been ignoring notifications that you have updates available—or haven’t been looking, in case your car’s entertainment system has no way to prompt you that a new firmware update is available—go do some digging. Make sure that you’re always keeping your devices updated, and set a calendar reminder if you’re forgetful.
But the easiest line of defense against both bad actors and meme-happy teens? Don’t leave your Bluetooth on if you aren’t regularly using the connection. Yes, this advice is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater, which is exactly why we don’t recommend going crazy and turning it on and off multiple times a day.
But if you aren’t using Bluetooth at all, why leave it on? It might be a tiny little step that gives you a little extra protection, but every little bit helps for device security. And, we should note, doing this isn’t going to save you any extra battery life—so get that out of your head right now. We’re just talking about keeping you as safe and sound as possible, especially if you’re using devices that might have Bluetooth enabled by default and aren’t regularly updated by the manufacturer (or you).
And don’t even get us started about the annoying practice of retailers using Bluetooth to track you while you’re shopping...
This story was originally published in 2017 and was updated on 10/209/19 with more recent information.