It is now officially Spring and we have finally seen some sunshine after a long and pretty chilly winter. In this edition, we’re focusing on potential risks of Bluetooth and how to protect against bad actors, along with what to consider if you are thinking of buying pre-owned devices.
Bluetooth – what to be aware of
Bluetooth first became available way back in 1999 and in the last few decades has become firmly entrenched into our day to day lives with uses ranging from wireless headphones through health apps to smart home systems. Whilst Bluetooth’s benefits are invaluable, bad actors unfortunately do their best to use it against us, in numerous ways, spawning a host of terms including BlueJacking, BlueSnarfing, BluePrinting and BlueBugging. This Forbes article describes 11 different types of Bluetooth attacks whilst suggesting ways to protect yourself. In summary this revolves around good cyber hygiene, for example, updating patches as soon as they become available, using strong PINs, only downloading apps from trusted sources and using software protection.
Buying used technology
In the last few years we have all experienced inflation impacts in our everyday work and home lives and, whilst technology is vital, it all adds up. Buying “used” technology could be the answer – and potentially more sustainable by repurposing existing tech. However, what do you need to consider before doing so?
• Is the device still supported? This is vital as older devices might not receive updates that could impact your cyber security
• How old is the device? It’s worth checking when the device was first sold
• What’s the battery life like? There’s nothing more frustrating than a battery that doesn’t last long!
• Is there any visible damage? Look for any cracks, dents or water damage
• Does it still have all its accessories? If not, it could be a false economy as you need to make additional purchases
• Is there a returns policy? If something goes wrong you need some recourse
• How does the price compare? Check against brand new to see if your savings make sense
• Can you test it before buying? This is a good idea to make sure it will do what you need it to
