On Monday, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris was photographed sitting aboard Air Force Two wearing a headset connected to a phone.
This isn't the first time Harris has been photographed wearing wired headphones. In her famous "We did it, Joe" call to President Joe Biden over their 2020 victory over Donald Trump, Harris can be seen holding a pair of wired headphones in one hand. In fact, she's done multiple television interviews and official videos wearing wired headphones.
In 2021, Politico offered insight into Harris' preference for headphones, reporting that she "has long felt that Bluetooth headphones pose a security risk" and therefore "insists on using wired headphones," according to three anonymous former campaign staffers. (HuffPost reached out to Harris' office about her use of wired headphones but has not received a response.)
Now, we may not know exactly why Harris relies on wired headphones. But if it's because of security risks, then she's right to be wary of Bluetooth devices, according to cybersecurity experts.
Why Bluetooth Headphones Pose Safety Risks.
Bluetooth transmits data through the air within a certain range, making it inherently vulnerable to nearby threats, said security architect and certified ethical hacker Maril Vernon. She said it was "smart" of Harris to use wired headphones.
″[Harris'] "A physical connection is much more secure because the risk of the wireless signal being intercepted is eliminated, and there is virtually no way for an attacker to eavesdrop on her conversation when she is using the device and headphones unless they are standing right next to her and can physically hear her through her headphones, or they have compromised her mobile device," Vernon said.
If Harris were indeed using Bluetooth headphones, there would be a greater risk that someone could listen to her conversations via a hacked connection, explains Kevin Johnson, CEO of consulting firm Secure Ideas and a hacker hired by companies to test their own security holes.
"If you are elected vice president of the United States, you should stop using Bluetooth altogether," he said.
Few of us will be trusted with state secrets that we must keep private, but you are probably one of the billions who use a Bluetooth device. Should you follow Harris' example and stick to wired headphones?
The good news is that unless you're a presidential candidate who is a prime target for hackers, you can safely continue using your wireless headphones as long as you take a few precautions.
How to be safer when using Bluetooth headphones and other devices.
Both cybersecurity experts HuffPost spoke to use Bluetooth headphones in their daily lives. But they also follow a few security protocols to make their listening experience safer in public spaces. Here's how:
1. Do not leave Bluetooth on 24 hours a day.
Break the habit of leaving your Bluetooth setting on all the time. As the Federal Communications Commission warns on its website, "Leaving it active could allow hackers to discover what other devices you've previously connected to, spoof one of those devices, and gain access to your device."
Disabling Bluetooth when you're not actively using it minimizes the chances of attackers trying to connect to or disrupt the connection to your devices, Vernon said.
For example, she suggested turning off your Bluetooth settings when you take a break from listening to your audiobook or music.
Also, be aware of the number of strangers around you when you turn your Bluetooth setting back on. Make sure "you're very close to the device you're trying to connect to, and you're not near other people," Vernon advised, noting that the more distance you have from other people, the safer you'll be when connecting.
If possible, connect your phone to your Bluetooth headphones in the privacy of your own home before you leave, and not in public places like an airport or on a plane, she added.
2. Regularly check which devices are paired with your Bluetooth connection.
Bluetooth devices can connect to your phone or car in a process known as "pairing." But too many of us forget to "unpair" our devices after we're done using Bluetooth. And that's a huge security risk.
"So many people connect to their friend's car once to play music and never, ever leave to take their friend's car. [from their list of paired devices]," Vernon said. Now that your mobile device and your friend's car are connected, they can "reconnect at any time if you come near that device."
Of course, that's fine if it's a friend of yours, but it can be worrying if it's someone you don't trust.
"Every Bluetooth device has the potential to share data that you don't realize it's doing," Johnson said. "So you have to think about all the devices that you're connecting and using."
Take the example of renting a car and using your phone's Bluetooth capabilities to listen to music or make hands-free calls. Remember to unpair your phone and "set everything to forget that device" from the rental car after you return it, Johnson advised. If you don't erase this information, someone could potentially gain access to your phone contacts and conversations.
3. Use modern Bluetooth versions and perform software updates.
Bluetooth has gone through several iterations over the past 10 years. Most modern headphones, such as the second-generation AirPods, use Bluetooth 5.0 or later. But you should check which version of Bluetooth your devices support by looking up your device's specs. Johnson said that if you've purchased Bluetooth headphones in the past five or six years, you're likely using modern Bluetooth.
"Make sure you're not using a device that you bought through Amazon that uses Bluetooth version three, which is not as encrypted as Bluetooth version five," Vernon said.
Additionally, don't ignore firmware updates for the phone you're pairing your wireless headphones with. These software update requests from your device's manufacturer aren't sent out to annoy you, with Vernon explaining that "most of the time what they're trying to eliminate is remote code execution and people connecting to your device without your permission."
4. Make it a little harder for people to guess which device is yours.
Are your AirPods, iPhone, and iPad all currently identified by your real name? If so, you may want to reconsider, Vernon said. When your Bluetooth setting is turned on, your devices are discoverable and could reveal personal information, like your name or the names of your children, that you wouldn't want strangers in your area knowing.
Vernon recommended naming your device something "weird so no one can link it to you," noting that it's also "an extra layer of security."
She gave the example of giving your Bluetooth device a random name that isn't yours, so hackers have "less information to work with."
Bluetooth has made it easy for us to stay connected to our music, friends, and more while we're on the go, and unless you have a job that involves highly sensitive information, you don't have to give up that convenience altogether. Just remember to follow these steps to keep your personal information from being broadcast for strangers to find and see.