Bluetooth technology is now implemented in most of the modern day cellular phones. Other devices such as laptops, PDAs and cameras are now found with bluetooth technology. These devices can interconnect with each other when the devices are within the connectivity range. Bluejacking refers to transmission of unsolicited messages to other bluetooth devices in the network. When you enter into a bluetooth network, you may find more than one device to pair with. Many times, you may not know who have paired with your device. Under such circumstances, people may send you messages and this is called bluejacking. Generally, text messages are only sent, but modern day mobile phones allow sending of images as well as sounds using bluetooth.

You may think that bluejacking is related to hijacking your bluetooth device. But, it is not true. Bluejacking is harmless as long as no one sends you any virus or malicious code that can damage your mobile device. Generally, socially active people use bluejacking to send flirting messages to make more friends. In most of the cases, you may receive a friendship message or business card. Now, several advertisers use bluejacking to advertise their products. As people will be carrying their mobile devices with them, it becomes easier for the advertisers to contact people through bluejacking.

Many people don’t even recognize that some messages they receive are originated by bluejacking. When they receive some business card, they think that their phone is malfunctioning. You can ignore messages sent through bluejacking. Mobile device users consider bluejacking similar to spamming. Just like spammers, you can ignore people sending you unsolicited messages. In bluetooth technology, it is not possible to identify the device which originated the message. When you are in a network of several bluetooth devices, you will never know the sender of the message. Bluejacking has nothing to do with your service provider and you won’t be charged anything for sending and receiving files using bluetooth.

Several bluejacking software and tools are now developed by individual developers. These tools are aimed at very specific functions. Some tools help you identify invisible devices and there are tools available for bluebugging as well. These sinister tools are not generally known to common men and they are kept as trade secrets by spammers. Sometimes, these people send viruses and Trojans resulting in take over of the whole device.

As there are possibilities to receive harmful messages through bluejacking, you have to know how to prevent bluejacking. The most straight forward way is to switch off bluetooth connectivity when you are in public areas. Enable bluetooth in your mobile device only if you intend to connect with some specific device. If you want to keep bluetooth enabled, but prevent bluejacking, you have to make your device invisible in the network. You can find this option with the bluetooth menu in your device. Modern day mobile devices allow you to accept or reject incoming bluetooth connections. You can use this facility to block spammers from connecting to your device and prevent bluejacking.

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