How to Use Bluetooth Safely in Your Car 

Bluetooth technology has been widely applied in various electronic devices, one of which is in car head units. Its function is to provide entertainment that can be connected directly from devices such as cell phones or tablets.

That way, your car trip will not be boring because you can enjoy personalized entertainment. In fact, you can make phone calls without having to hold your smartphone while driving. However, it is important to know how to use Bluetooth safely in your car.

Using this technology carries risks such as data theft, unauthorized access, and cyber attacks. Therefore, this article will inform you on how to use Bluetooth safely in your car.

How to Use Bluetooth in Cars 

To listen to music in your car and make hands-free phone calls, you need to know how to connect your devices. Here’s how to use Bluetooth in your car:

• Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and car: Turn on the car’s audio system by going to the settings menu and finding the Bluetooth option. Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone as well.
• Connect the devices: Your smartphone will search for available Bluetooth devices until the name of your car’s head unit appears in the list. Select the name to connect the devices.
• Devices connected: Once successfully connected, the status “Connected” will appear.

After that, you can play music, listen to podcasts, or audiobooks. You can even make or receive hands-free calls from your phone through the car’s head unit. Some head units also come with voice command features through virtual assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.

Tips for Bluetooth devices that cannot connect:

• When the connection fails, try turning Bluetooth off and on again on both devices.
• Make sure no other devices are connected to the car’s Bluetooth.
• Check the device settings to ensure that audio streaming is enabled via Bluetooth.

Risks of Using Bluetooth in Cars

When using Bluetooth devices in cars, it is important to be aware that there are potential risks. Here are some risks to be aware of:

• Data theft: Car systems store personal data such as contacts, call logs, and messages, which could potentially be accessed by irresponsible parties.
• Call interception: Car Bluetooth is vulnerable to “car whispering,” which allows conversations to be intercepted or audio to be fed into the car. 
• Cyberattacks: Bluetooth devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks, such as bluesnarfing, BlueJacking, and BlueSmacking, which can disrupt and steal information.

Tips to Use Bluetooth Safely in Your Car

The risks associated with using Bluetooth in your car are certainly no reason to stop using it. The benefits of entertainment on the road and hands-free calling are definitely something you should enjoy. What you need to know is how to use Bluetooth safely in your car. Here are some tips:

Turn off Bluetooth when not in use

What is often forgotten after using Bluetooth is to turn it off. Not turning off Bluetooth risks hacking or unknown connections. Therefore, make sure that Bluetooth on your device and car is turned off when you are finished using it.

Be wary of unknown connections.

Bluetooth in cars is usually passive, so when activated, it will automatically connect if a device attempts to connect. You need to check whether you recognize the connected device. If not, immediately disconnect Bluetooth to ensure your safety.

Delete unused devices

In addition to turning off the connection, another important thing to do is to delete unused Bluetooth names. That way, your connection list on your phone and car system will be neat and clean. This is, of course, to prevent unwanted connections, including those from unknown devices.

Update the system regularly

Another thing you can do to use Bluetooth safely in your car is to update the system regularly. A regularly updated car infotainment system will help improve safety. Make sure you use official software from your car manufacturer.

Using Bluetooth in your car will add to your driving comfort and safety. With a personalized entertainment system and hands-free features, your driving experience will certainly improve. The important thing to note is to use Bluetooth safely in your car.

Risks of data theft, call tapping, and cyber attacks can occur when using Bluetooth. What you can do is use it safely by turning off Bluetooth when not in use, being wary of unknown connections, and removing unused devices.

In addition, you also need to update your car’s entertainment system to improve security. Another thing to consider when using Bluetooth in your car is to drive safely and use the volume wisely so that you remain aware of your surroundings.