In recent news, a $169 multi-tool called the Flipper Zero, designed for penetration testers and hobbyists, has been causing trouble for iPhone users. This device is capable of interacting with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol, allowing for wireless data transfers between devices.
The Flipper Zero has been modified to perform Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks on iPhones and iPads by spamming them with an overwhelming amount of Bluetooth connection notifications, causing the devices to freeze and reboot.
Even the latest beta version of iOS 17 (iOS 17.2 beta 2 for developers) has been unable to prevent these attacks. The range of this device is about 50 meters (~164 feet), so users do not even have to be near their target for the attack to occur.
The only solution at this point is to disable Bluetooth from the Settings, as turning it off from the Control Center or using Airplane mode does not prevent the attack. This has caused a lot of frustration for iPhone users, who are left vulnerable to these attacks.
As always, it is important to stay informed and take precautions to protect your devices from potential threats like this one. Keep an eye out for updates and security measures provided by Apple to address this issue.
