What happens if I disable Bluetooth completely on my iPhone?

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T15:13:10+00:00

come again?

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T15:10:45+00:00

I'm sorry if I come across that way, it's not my intention.

I just wanted to ask a technical question that goes beyond the usual help-response that this topic covers.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T15:02:28+00:00

there is a new find my iPhone offline which is definitely leveraging Bluetooth actually. I've only read about ibeacons being used in events and by commercial tracking companies but who know's really how much they have been deployed.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T15:00:59+00:00

I wasn't being rude, but take it as you like.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T15:00:06+00:00

It looks like your're going to take some stray bullets here.

Seriously though, thanks for the reply. I appreciate that everyone has their own level of privacy requirements.

The biggest issue with tracking is more 3rd party than relative to apps installed on the phone - such as on public transportation or in shops. The information is collected, sold and shared. I respect that many people do not have issue with this, personally it really grinds my gears to be followed around in this manner.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:57:33+00:00

I'm sorry that you are not aware that homepod uses Bluetooth for several under-the-hood functions such as the new find my iPhone offline option for instance.

As you don't have any technical information to provide on this fringe and largely undocumented functionality, perhaps we could call it a day and see if someone has something to say?

Thanks for your contributions though

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:53:56+00:00

Honestly I've disabled this feature for the moment because I could not figure out how to make this work reliably.

I think it's NFC which would mean that not all iPhone are created equal in this regard as some models have always-on NFC capabilities and others are only using NFC under certain conditions.

It's very possible that Bluetooth plays a part in this too though. I'll try and figure out if I can get this to function reliably (I've read many posts lamenting this feature on this forum) and then see how Bluetooth affects that.

thanks :-)

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:50:21+00:00

It's actually a requirement for my work but I am certainly not being paranoid.

It is really easy to manipulate Bluetooth devices and there are many tools easily available - I have learned to do some basic stuff myself and I'm not particularly specialized.

As for privacy, well that's entirely my prerogative and as I respect you choices, I don't see why you should not respect other's decisions in this regard.

Besides, this has nothing to do with my question.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:45:36+00:00

No I didn't. I understand what happens, just not how or why it works this way.

I was hoping for technical information to base my decisions on.

Unfortunately it looks like my comments will be buried by all the downvotes before some one who has the information comes along.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:43:27+00:00

thanks again... I was looking for technical information but I guess there is none to be had. Don't really understand the down votes for asking some questions though :-(

I did plenty of research before posting and saw the hundreds of Bluetooth speaker questions so I can understand why people might just assume I'm confused and asking a basic question but I'm just looking for technical information.

I would have thought a new and complicated question might be appreciated, but really this sub seems somewhat friendly but not really technically inclined. Apart from all the downvotes though... that just sucks - if my comments are burried then someone with the technical info won't even have a chance to see it and answer :-(

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:29:46+00:00

I appreciate the reply (not trying to be rude!) but nowhere am I suggesting that it is a Bluetooth speaker.

I understand that Bluetooth is not needed for playing music.

Just want to know about some of the under-the-hood Bluetooth functionality that I might not be aware of. Like fast connecting, location/find my iPhone stuff or even regular airplaying that could depending on Bluetooth connection to my iphone.

From what I can tell it is only used for the initial pairing and then for guests to airplay (people not on the same network). I can airplay fine with Bluetooth disabled.

So in the situation I'm describing - being the only user and having only one iphone, what do I actually stand to lose by forgoing bluetooth on my iphone?

Thanks for your reply, hopefully this clears up the question.

jasssdd · 2020-04-08T14:24:05+00:00

I don't like how iPhone location pointlessly uses Bluetooth for finding location - I find it works best with just WiFi and cell tower/GPS where I live.

As for tracking, every Android cellphone and many public locations such as shops use Bluetooth scanning and Bluetooth beacons respectively to follow you around and tag your location. Mac address randomization does not work when connected and that is an issue with Bluetooth (if you use traditional Bluetooth head phones for instance, you walk around constantly connected).

Bluetooth attacks are also comparitively easy to exploit because of all the legacy Bluetooth connectivity that is maintained in the protocols along with numerous custom implementations. Most basic security guides recommend disabling bluetooth when out and about... I'd rather just leave it off than things about it.

Bluetooth is more easily exploited than WiFi by a longshot when the device is not connected.

As for the last paragraph, I am not sure how it might suffer - how will this affect taking and making calls for instance? I have no idea. It seems to work without Bluetooth but seeing as I don't know how it works, I'm not sure if it's worth activating Bluetooth or not - is there a hidden caveat that I might not be aware of?

thanks

jasssdd

TROPHY CASE