VICE President Kamala Harris reportedly insists on using wired headphones because she feels Bluetooth connectivity is a security risk. The revelation came from former aides, who told Politico that Harris is known to be careful about security and technology. Harris has been pictured with the classic wired headphones on many occasions, from live TV interviews […]
VICE President Kamala Harris reportedly insists on using wired headphones because she feels Bluetooth connectivity is a security risk.
The revelation came from former aides, who told Politico that Harris is known to be careful about security and technology.
Harris has been pictured with the classic wired headphones on many occasions, from live TV interviews to campaign videos.
Perhaps one of the most memorable instances was in her congratulatory call to President Joe Biden after they secured a win in the 2020 election.
Aside from insisting on using wired headphones to avoid Bluetooth, she also reportedly prefers texting to email and hasn’t wanted guests waiting in her office alone for security reasons.
One former aide told Politico that staff were instructed to have Harris’ visitors wait outside her office when she was attorney general in California.
Her husband, Doug Emhoff, doesn’t appear to share the same concerns over Bluetooth security.
He was spotted using AirPods in 2019 and shared a photo sporting them on Instagram in December 2020.
Some aides described Harris’ approach toward security as “prudent,” while others thought it was a bit paranoid.
Newsweek took a more serious approach to her preference for wired earbuds, highlighting concerns about Bluetooth technology’s vulnerability to tracking and surveillance.
In July, the National Security Agency (NSA) published a document that addressed securing wireless devices in public settings.
The agency said keeping a device’s Bluetooth on in a public setting can pose a cybersecurity risk as malicious actors can scan for active Bluetooth signals and potentially get information about devices.
The document mentioned a series of techniques hackers can use to exploit Bluetooth, called Bluejacking, Bluesnarfing, and Bluebugging, to send or collect information from devices.
The information can then be leveraged to compromise the device, possibly enabling access to corporate data and networks, according to the NSA.
Some tech journalists and experts said while most people don’t need to be overly concerned about Bluetooth hacking, it makes sense for someone in Harris’ position to take precautions.
Politico reports that the vice president’s office did not respond when asked about Harris’ use of wired headphones and uneasiness over Bluetooth.
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