Strange devices on Bluetooth not appearing in preferences list

[IAmGrammy]

I have a 2012 Macbook Pro (Yosemite 10.10.5 --- because I like "old school") 16GB Memory, 1.62 TB free of 2 TB, and it's been great until this morning. I left it sleeping last night and this morning when I woke it up, it had apparently restarted because it required a log in. No big deal, until I noticed that the cursor was erratically jumping all over the screen without my even touching the trackpad. I checked my bluetooth and discovered all sorts of devices that I have never seen before. The only two that should have been there are the JBL Flip 3 and the SBT556. The others that appear (screenshot left) are not even listed in the Bluetooth preferences. When I follow the arrows, they simply lead me to check preferences but it's a dead end. They don't appear there. Can anyone advise me how to remove these devices from my Bluetooth?

(Original issue, the cursor, seems to have been sorted by restarting and zapping the PRAM.)

Thank you.

 

[Technerd108]

I am not an expert but that behavior and the fact you are using an older device with an older version of MacOS suggests to me that someone was trying to hack into your computer through a compromised bluetooth stack. Since it is not supported and not receiving security updates that could be a serious problem.

Generally MacOS is pretty secure but once someone finds a vulnerability in an unsupported OS they can exploit it and whatever the vulnerability is, it will never get fixed.

running an unsupported OS is a security risk be default and I would recommend that you do something to help with security. You could use a Linux distro made for older Macs and you would be secure. Otherwise the only other option is to run it and have open security flaws that may never get fixed.

You can get security software like Malwarebytes and Sofos free and install those if they are still supported on Yosemite. Then at least you will have something to help. Support for Yosemite ended in 2019.

However a security program might not do anything for a bluetooth hack.

Turn bluetooth OFF unless you are actively using it and even then at this point I would just turn it off.

Also to get rid of the bluetooth devices I would wipe and re-install Yosemite then keep bluetooth off at all times or at least only when actively using a bluetooth device. Install security software after new install of Yosemite. Another way to avoid security issues is to keep wifi OFF unless actively using the network.

I know this is a hassle but if you keep bluetooth OFF most of the time if not all the time and WIFI OFF unless you are on the internet you will avoid a lot of potential problems and mated with some security software you should be able to mitigate as much risk as possible.

The only way to truly be safe is to run a supported OS like Elementary OS or PoP OS which are Linux based and should support your hardware. They will be safe and secure. Or upgrade your Mac. Running Yosemite is fine as long as you limit exposure to the internet and bluetooth. Every time you use Wifi or connect to the internet you are at risk. Same with Bluetooth although the range of bluetooth is rather limited so that should protect you if you are in a secluded area.

 

[IAmGrammy]

Thank you so much! I did think to check someone else's MacBook Pro here in the house, just in the wild, weird off-chance that my MacBook Pro's Bluetooth was trying to somehow remotely pair with any of their devices but that MacBook Pro has none of the devices listed on my laptop. I'll wipe and reinstall Yosemite (and perhaps surrender to a newer OS after that) and keep my Bluetooth off. I appreciate the help; thank you again.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I believe that the last and latest supported OS for your 2012MBP is Catalina. It is actually quite a solid OS, I've been running a patched version for a while. It will at least get you to Safari 15.6.1 though I'm guessing you're probably running other latest versioned Browsers.

Just beware that Catalina drops support for 32 bit Apps to exclusively support 64 bit only. If some or all are vital then perhaps going to Catalina itself won't be an option. I believe you can check by going to About This Mac>System Report>Software>Applications.

 

[IAmGrammy]

I believe that the last and latest supported OS for your 2012MBP is Catalina. It is actually quite a solid OS, I've been running a patched version for a while. It will at least get you to Safari 15.6.1 though I'm guessing you're probably running other latest versioned Browsers.

Just beware that Catalina drops support for 32 bit Apps to exclusively support 64 bit only. If some or all are vital then perhaps going to Catalina itself won't be an option. I believe you can check by going to About This Mac>System Report>Software>Applications.

Thank you so much. Hopefully, if I can upgrade to Catalina, my version of iTunes will recognize my iPhone again. It no longer does, so that I can't sync and offload a lot of stuff eating up my storage. I'll check to see which apps I can live without before I upgrade. Thanks again!

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Thank you so much. Hopefully, if I can upgrade to Catalina, my version of iTunes will recognize my iPhone again. It no longer does, so that I can't sync and offload a lot of stuff eating up my storage. I'll check to see which apps I can live without before I upgrade. Thanks again!

No problems at all. There's certainly times I miss the simplicity and clarity of the iLife Suite, Snow Leopard, even ElCapitan. Music App especially is just a big bloat but it's great you at least have decent sized ram. Your model overall is quite a solid machine.

Going forward though, I would struggle to no longer have synching of Calendar, Notes, Contacts or Reminders between this MBP and my older iPhone. It was nifty having Safari bookmarks briefly do this also, but some update (or lack of) broke this feature at some point.

I probably don't have to mention having decent back up strategy in place prior to undertaking OS upgrades. Well, at all other times also, off course.

 

[justashooter]

I also have a 2012 MBP, a 13 inch, as my daily machine. I am using it now. I upgraded as far as Mojave, because I still use some 32 bit apps. It is very stable, one of the best OS X I have used. You might consider upgrading to it. You would get newer security updates, up to the end of Apples support for Mojave, which appears to have ended in late 2021. It still has iTunes.

 

[IAmGrammy]

I also have a 2012 MBP, a 13 inch, as my daily machine. I am using it now. I upgraded as far as Mojave, because I still use some 32 bit apps. It is very stable, one of the best OS X I have used. You might consider upgrading to it. You would get newer security updates, up to the end of Apples support for Mojave, which appears to have ended in late 2021. It still has iTunes.

Oh, thanks! I may stop there (Mojave) for a while before venturing any further, I think. I'd like to stay with iTunes at least until I work out my iPhone storage issues (not a cloud fan). I'll have to work up to using the Finder, I think.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Oh, thanks! I may stop there (Mojave) for a while before venturing any further, I think. I'd like to stay with iTunes at least until I work out my iPhone storage issues (not a cloud fan). I'll have to work up to using the Finder, I think.

Which sort of brings you back to the security issue? An option would be to upgrade to Mojave, make a bootable copy with CCC or SuperDuper on an external drive, then upgrade to Catalina on the internal? If you don't get along with Cat, you just transplant your Mojave drive into the MBP. Just throwing some ideas out there.

Have I mentioned how great and flexible the 2012 model is Something I wished I had now, instead of this 2009 dinosaur I'm typing on.

 

[IAmGrammy]

Which sort of brings you back to the security issue? An option would be to upgrade to Mojave, make a bootable copy with CCC or SuperDuper on an external drive, then upgrade to Catalina on the internal? If you don't get along with Cat, you just transplant your Mojave drive into the MBP. Just throwing some ideas out there.

Have I mentioned how great and flexible the 2012 model is Something I wished I had now, instead of this 2009 dinosaur I'm typing on.

That's a good idea; that way I can keep a little flexibility and still dig my heels in, ha. I confess: I love the 2012 so much that for many years now, I just buy "parts" machines on eBay and keep tearing mine down and rebuilding it. I wanted to keep the DVD drive, the ability to double the RAM, etc. Lots of reasons why I love this little laptop. I can flip it over and get down to the motherboard without thinking it through, now. 😄

But I'm still learning when it comes to things like security and the latest OS. (I still have an old iBook sitting down on the floor beside me that runs OS 9 and an old Mac Classic II (let's hear it for Ram Doubler)! I drag my feet, I admit it. But I'll get there.