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$5 Tracker Reveals Dutch Warship's Location
19 Apr
Summary
- A $5 Bluetooth tracker hidden in a postcard exposed a Dutch warship's location.
- The tracker used crew phones to send location signals for nearly 24 hours.
- Dutch authorities changed rules and banned electronic greeting cards post-incident.
A low-cost Bluetooth tracker, valued at approximately $5, was successfully used to reveal the real-time location of the Dutch warship HNLMS Evertsen. Disguised within a mailed postcard, the device transmitted location signals for nearly a full day, leveraging the mobile phones of onboard crew members. This incident occurred on March 27 when the warship was part of a NATO fleet.
The vulnerability arose from the Dutch Defence Ministry's public sharing of mailing details for deployed personnel, creating an unintended security loophole. The HNLMS Evertsen, an advanced warship worth around $585 million, had its position compromised. Navy officials discovered and disabled the tracker within 24 hours of its arrival.
In response, Dutch authorities revised their security protocols, now banning electronic greeting cards, which were previously not subjected to the same scrutiny as other mail packages. This change aims to prevent similar breaches and enhance the security of naval assets and missions. Former Lieutenant General Mart de Kruif emphasized a necessary shift in mindset towards prioritizing security.
