PSA Newsletter 38: Privacy, Security, Automation!
Bluetooth: How to Keep Your Devices Quiet and Private in Public
Privacy
Bluetooth, Airdrop, Personal Hotspot, and other network services advertise your device's name to others when Bluetooth or Airdrop are turned on. On Apple devices, this defaults to the username you provided during setup. Therefore, if you used your first and last name during setup, your first name will be advertised, as in "John's iPhone" or "Jane's Apple Watch". If you want to change this to a more anonymous name, you can change your device name. On iPhone:
- Open the Settings App
- Go To General > About > Name
- Tap the X, then enter a new name
Instructions for changing your Apple Watch name are in this newsletter's sources. [1] [2]
Security
Practicing Bluetooth security starts with the following easy steps:
- Turn off Bluetooth when leaving your home (This can be done easily and automatically with an iOS Automation)
- Turn off Discoverable or Pairing Mode unless actively pairing
- Delete unused paired devices
For extra assurance that your devices won't leak Bluetooth or other wireless signals. consider using a faraday bag when in public, such as the Mission Darkness Dry Shield. Note: You won't be able to use your device when it's in the bag. [3] [4]
Automation
As has been covered before in this newsletter, Bluetooth and WiFi can be used by others to identify and track your devices from place to place when out in public. To automatically turn off Bluetooth and WiFi on iOS or iPadOS when leaving your home or other fixed location, follow these steps:
- Open Shortcuts
- Go to the Automations tab
- Tap New Automation > Leave
- Choose your home location
- Select "Any Time" and "Run Immediately"
- Tap Next when done
- Tap "Create New Shortcut"
- Search for "Bluetooth" in the "Search Actions" bar and choose "Set Bluetooth"
- Tap the word "On" to "Off" so the action reads "Turn Bluetooth Off"
- Repeat the above two steps for Wi-Fi
- Tap the checkmark in the upper right corner of the screen when done
- This automation will appear under "Personal" and is now enabled
There are two things to note about his automation. First, it will automatically turn off the Bluetooth and WiFi radios when you leave the geofence you've defined in Step 4, but it won't turn them back on, so you'll have to create a second automation to enable them upon arrival, or do it yourself manually. Second, Apple Watch uses Bluetooth to communicate with your phone, so notifications and other data may not appear on your watch while Bluetooth is turned off.
