Technology

Bluetooth tracker hidden in a postcard and mailed to a warship exposed its location — $5 gadget put a $585 million Dutch ship at risk for 24 hours

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Apr 18, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

A Dutch warship, HNLMS Evertsen, part of a NATO carrier strike group, unknowingly exposed its location for 24 hours after receiving a postcard with a hidden Bluetooth tracker. The tracker, similar to an Apple AirTag but cheaper at $5, was mailed in, allowing spies to track the $585 million Navy ship without physical access. Dutch authorities discovered and disabled the tracker within a day, prompting a ban on electronic greeting cards due to security risks. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining operational security in the face of new technologies that can inadvertently compromise military operations.

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