alt.hn

4/18/2026 at 5:35:51 PM

Bluetooth tracker in a postcard and mailed to a warship exposed its location

 https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/bluetooth-tracker-hidden-in-a-postcard-and-mailed-to-a-warship-exposed-its-location-a-eur5-gadget-put-a-eur500-million-dutch-ship-at-risk-for-24-hours

by tcp_handshaker

4/19/2026 at 12:50:59 AM

It’s pretty hard to hide warships these days. Imagery satellites with resolution good enough to track a ship capture every location on earth several times a day.

by randyrand

4/19/2026 at 3:35:34 AM

These days Bluetooth chips can be tracked using satellites using Hubble Network satellites (www.hubble.com)

by benwild78

4/18/2026 at 8:54:53 PM

It would have to be something like an AirTag or Tile, otherwise it would be pointless?

The only reason these are useful is because of the vast amount of phones that will report the location of the bluetooth tracker. A $10 chinese version wouldn’t work so well.

by iJohnDoe

4/18/2026 at 11:18:57 PM

Since it was Dutch news and Dutch ship - I'm betting they used ~€5 Bluetooth tracker available in Action stores.

Not sure how different it works from Apple/Samsung trackers. But my Motorola Android phone can set it up, and phones out and about are reporting where it is.

by techcode

4/19/2026 at 3:06:45 AM

Thank you, both! I had no idea other options were available.

by iJohnDoe