Dutch Navy warship tracked via Bluetooth device sent through mail

A Dutch air-defense frigate, the HNLMS Evertsen, was successfully tracked by a journalist using a simple Bluetooth device mailed to the vessel. This incident highlights a significant operational security lapse within the Dutch Navy, raising questions about current protocols for handling mail and packages sent to deployed personnel, The Register reports.

Omroep Gelderland journalist Just Vervaart used publicly available instructions from the Dutch Ministry of Defence on sending mail to deployed service members. He concealed a Bluetooth tracker, costing approximately 5 euros, within a postcard and mailed it to the HNLMS Evertsen. The tracker remained active for about 24 hours, revealing the warship's movements from Crete towards Cyprus before it was discovered and disabled by the crew during mail sorting.

The warship is part of a mission to protect France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. In response to the breach, the Dutch Ministry of Defence is revising its mail policies, banning greeting cards with batteries and reviewing other guidelines.

Source: The Register