Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Barcode Scanners Emerge as Potential Cybersecurity Threat

Barcode Scanners Emerge As Potential Cybersecurity Threat

A potential vulnerability has been uncovered in wireless barcode scanners that could allow hackers to gain access to warehouse computer networks and disrupt e-commerce supply chains.

Kaspersky researchers found that a lack of authentication between scanners and their base stations could enable attackers to transmit malicious commands to connected computers through Bluetooth, potentially providing unauthorised access to warehouse systems.

Kaspersky warned that similar attack methods could affect other warehouse equipment, including portable data terminals and thermal printers, potentially exposing Warehouse Management Systems to cyber threats.

Sergey Sidorov, head of Industrial Security Services at Kaspersky, urged the retail and logistics sectors to strengthen cybersecurity across their operations. The company recommended implementing strong authentication, disabling unused Bluetooth interfaces, segmenting networks, updating software and restricting user access to reduce the risk of cyberattacks. 

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