this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2025
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Privacy

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If I pair my Android phone and my laptop, I can share files over Bluetooth from the phone to the laptop. I've started finding this a really convenient method for me to send files to a Linux laptop without needing to install a separate app on either the phone or my laptop. Especially when I'm away from my home network (I use SFTP at home).

How secure is this? Is there encryption by default and could someone else nearby with a receiver potentially decode the file you're sending?

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[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It is extremely unlikely that there would be a motivated enough attacker to target you. And if someone is not targeting you, but just attacking everyone in range, it's unlikely the files you are transferring are of any value to them.

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You can't be too sure. Last thing anyone wants is someone to get ahold of their legendary Pepes.

[–] SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Nobody sane is transferring legendary pepes unencrypted over Bluetooth. I use an encrypted USB delivered by courier with key provided upon proof of receipt (and payment, of course). Other than that they stay on an airgapped machine or cold storage.

[–] ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s actually entirely horse shit.

Only the very newest products that are on the latest standard are secure.

It all look secure and sounds secure and feels secure with all the encryption….

But about 2 years ago there was a downgrade attack that was proven to affect basically everything.

Bluetooth security might as well be a flashing neon sign of your data.

Now it’s not quite that simple and some people have updated their devices etc……

But almost nobody actually has done that because Bluetooth devices are “fire and forget”

I mean when’s the last time you updated the firmware on your headphones or keyboard?

Mostly “never”

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Heads up, I know you said "without additional apps," but check out KDEconnect, it's pretty sweet.

[–] scott@lem.free.as 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] 0x0@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] llii@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

No, thanks:

It uses a WebRTC peer-to-peer connection. WebRTC needs a signaling server that is only used to establish a connection. The server is not involved in the file transfer.

If your devices are paired and behind a NAT, the PairDrop TURN Server is used to route your files and messages.

[–] Deckweiss@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

What's so bad about servers?

Both are open source.

The signaling server just sees the IPs of your devices.

The turn server sees only locally encrypted files.

[–] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'd rather not upload my files on remote servers. No matter if open source or no

[–] Deckweiss@lemmy.world -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The file does not get uploaded to remote servers. It passes through them, fully encrypted, and the server does not have the keys to decrypt your files.

[–] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If it passes through, that means it is present on the server's storage, even if for a short period of time

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

All your data and traffic passes through various routers and servers (both of which are computers and have memory) while you do anything on the internet (You can find the list of such computers by doing a traceroute). But because it is end to end encrypted - you don't care.

[–] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 week ago

this is why i have developed my own cloud solution. a file server that i host myself

[–] llii@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

My concern is has more to do with metadata, wich can be collected. If there's a local alternative or a self-hosted one for something, I'm more inclined to use these than something that depends on a third party.

[–] Deckweiss@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

You can selfhost PairDrop though. Including the signaling and turn server. It's open source.

[–] llii@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 weeks ago

Ok, that's great!

[–] Natanael@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 weeks ago

It is encrypted, but the security of the encryption varies between implementations (some have been found to generate keys insecurely or screw up session management, etc). For most modern devices it's decent, as long as you're not actively targeted by some kind of intel agency

[–] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago

How can you send files over bluetooth when you are not home? You are confusing it with something else. Bluetooth has a 10 meter radius. Also, it is not secure at all, if you send important files and suspect that someone might be eavesdropping within 10 meters, don't use it