this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2026
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Hundreds of Millions of Audio Devices Need a Patch to Prevent Wireless Hacking and Tracking (www.wired.com)
submitted 1 month ago by dance_ninja@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
76 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Flaws in how 17 models of headphones and speakers use Google’s one-tap Fast Pair Bluetooth protocol have left devices open to eavesdroppers and stalkers.

Link to see devices impacted: https://whisperpair.eu/

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[–] fort_burp@feddit.nl 39 points 1 month ago (3 children)

GOOGLE DESIGNED THE wireless protocol known as Fast Pair to optimize for ultra-convenient connections: It lets users connect their Bluetooth gadgets with Android and ChromeOS devices in a single tap.

Bluetooth pairing is not a difficult process, imagine creating a whole new attack vector for that. And of course security was an afterthought. Capitalism is amazing for wasting resources and getting bad results for it.

[–] dance_ninja@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'd agree security needs more attention when developing protocols and products, and I'd also consider Bluetooth simple. That being said, I know plenty of folks that don't like the Bluetooth pairing process, especially those without a technical background.

Fast Pair is really convenient, and I'd say it can open the door for a lot of new experiences, but I do wish the developers put more effort into their TARA.

[–] Auth@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

A lot of people genuinely find Fast Pair to be a big improvement over traditional Bluetooth pairing. So why is it such a bad idea for a company to design a protocol that solves the problem? I dont see that as wasting resources at all. Also Bluetooth pairing has had its own share of vulnerabilities over the years this issue isnt really unique to Fast Pair.

[–] fort_burp@feddit.nl 3 points 1 month ago

To each their own, no doubt. Personally I'm just in awe at how modern tech actually makes people tech-illiterate, and seemingly at a faster clip each year. Throw in an additional attack surface and that just makes it, for me, net minus. There are social and political implications to being tech-illiterate and tech-dependent (especially dependent on foreign and/or rogue states), which is another minus in my book.

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Given its google I would really not be surprised if it were a feature, not a bug

[–] fort_burp@feddit.nl 1 points 1 month ago

I mean, how do you think they got to be a trillion dollar company, R&D?