Hiding Bluetooth Trackers in Mail
Published: (April 24, 2026 at 07:01 AM EDT)
1 min read
Source: Schneier on Security
Source: Schneier on Security
Incident Overview
A Dutch naval ship was tracked using a hidden Bluetooth tracker placed inside a mailed postcard. The tracker’s location was visible for about a day, showing the vessel’s movement from Heraklion, Crete, toward Cyprus. While the data only revealed the position of that single ship, the fact that it belonged to a carrier strike group operating in the Mediterranean could have exposed the entire fleet.
How the Tracker Was Deployed
- Dutch journalist Just Vervaart (Omroep Gelderland) followed instructions posted on a Dutch government website.
- He mailed a postcard that contained a concealed Bluetooth tracker.
- The tracker was discovered within 24 hours of the ship’s arrival, during mail sorting, and was subsequently disabled.
Official Response
Navy officials confirmed the rapid discovery and removal of the device. In reaction to the incident, Dutch authorities have now banned electronic greeting cards on naval vessels, noting that unlike packages, such cards are not X‑rayed before being brought aboard.
Related Links
- Detailed coverage of the tracker’s discovery: Tom’s Hardware article