Bluebugging

What Does Bluebugging Mean?

Bluebugging is a technique that allows skilled hackers to access mobile commands on Bluetooth-enabled devices that are in discoverable mode.

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Bluebugging is similar to phone eavesdropping, or bugging.

Techopedia Explains Bluebugging

Because discoverable mode is a default setting, most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and devices are automatically vulnerable to bluebugging attacks. Certain tools – such as RedFang and BlueSniff – allow hackers to infiltrate Bluetooth-enabled devices that are not in discoverable mode.

Bluebugged devices are vulnerable to one or more of the following scenarios:

  • A device can be remotely controlled, which allows hackers to intercept or reroute communication.
  • Hackers may send and read text messages.
  • Hackers may place or monitor phone calls.
  • Hackers may do all of the above without leaving a trace.
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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…