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Rs 460 Bluetooth Tracker In Postcard Reveals Location Of Dutch Warship
A cheap Bluetooth tracker hidden in a mailed postcard exposed the real-time location of the Dutch warship HNLMS Evertsen for about a day. The device used nearby phones to relay location data, exploiting a mailing loophole, prompting policy changes on electronic greeting cards.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights how low-cost tracking tech can compromise naval security and underscores the need for stricter handling of mail and communications in military contexts.
Timeline
6 Events
Dutch authorities ban electronic greeting cards
April 19, 2026
Following the incident, Dutch authorities changed their rules and banned electronic greeting cards.
Tracker spotted and disabled
March 28, 2026
Crew members discovered the tracker during routine sorting and disabled it within about 24 hours of the mail arrival.
Tracker begins transmitting location data
March 27, 2026
The tracker started quietly sending out signals about its location, with transmissions continuing for nearly 24 hours.
Postcard with tracker arrives at HNLMS Evertsen
March 27, 2026
The Dutch warship HNLMS Evertsen received a normal-looking postcard on March 27, and the tracker started transmitting location data after the mail reached the ship.
Strava activity reveals carrier location
March 2026
A French officer on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle shared running activity and route on the Strava app, revealing the ship's location in the Mediterranean.
Earlier related incident (2024): USS Manchester Starlink terminal
2024
A similar incident occurred in 2024 when sailors on the US Navy ship USS Manchester secretly installed a Starlink terminal to access the internet at sea, according to Tom's Hardware.