Don't get "snarfed".

If you have a laptop, cell phone, or other gadget that is enabled with Bluetooth technology, beware of getting "snarfed"--that is what it's called when all the data on your device, including phone numbers, addresses, calendars, who you called and who called you, is stolen and copied onto another person's gadget.

Many cell phones use Bluetooth technology, which allows them to communicate sans cables with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. It is convenient, but this convenience makes it possible for someone to steal your data, or even hijack your cell phone. Last year, London security consultant AL Digital found flaws in the way some Bluetooth cell phones shared data with each other--flaws that could be used to gain unauthorized access to everything stored on that phone without the user ever knowing. They termed the trick "Bluesnarfing." When presented with AL Digital's evidence, major cell phone makers, including Nokia and Ericsson, said they were not aware of any such attacks taking place.

But all an attacker has to do is use a Bluetooth-enabled laptop to locate other devices nearby. Anything that is Bluetooth-activated and set to "discoverable" will show up, usually identified by its default device name. Being "discoverable" means a gadget is visible to anyone searching, but even if it isn't, an attacker still can find it, using software available on the Internet. The attacker can then use different software to take, delete, change, or add data.

To protect your device and your data, turn off Bluetooth on your phone unless you really need it to communicate with your other gadgets. More importantly, don't store credit card numbers or any other information on your phone that, if hijacked, would be devastating to you.