Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology which integrates with other Bluetooth enabled devices within the range of 10 meters including smartphones, notebook, headphones, computers, and PDAs. In today’s era, Bluetooth has become the most common technology among the worldwide users. People use it while having a hands-free conversation, jogging with their wireless headphones or streaming podcasts in your vehicle. Mobile devices and computers utilize it to transfer data and information – even latest appliance and cars are also equipped with built-in Bluetooth devices.
Common Bluetooth Security Issues
Bluetooth is a great methodology to connect devices, but it is also exposed to more security threats because of its mobile nature. An unprotected Bluetooth connection can be an open proposal for hackers to oversee your usage and steal your data. Problems associated with Bluetooth devices fall into following categories:
Worms and viruses:
Viruses and Malware are specifically built to attack mobile phones. Malware can outspread quickly via Bluetooth when your device is set to “Discoverable” and these viruses are often unseen in the form of an application.
Bluesnarfing:
Bluesnarfing misuses Bluetooth connections to reveal information from the intended device. An attacker wirelessly connects to your Bluetooth devices without your information to access and download your sensitive data.
Bluebugging:
A hacker entirely takes control of your Bluetooth devices using a wireless connection and mask similarly as the device you are looking to interface with, such as your headphones. After establishing a connection, hacker can access your contacts, read your messages and track your movement. It is likely as they have the remote control of your Bluetooth device.
Backdoor hacking:
A backdoor is created for your device which gives hacker the complete access of your Bluetooth device. A fake wireless access point (WAP) is developed which looks like “free wireless” network you are proposed to connect.
Bluetooth Network Security
Protection of Bluetooth connection is extremely important as Bluetooth devices are susceptible to numerous kind of wireless and networking attacks consisting denial of service errors, eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle error, message alteration, and resource misappropriation.
Bluetooth Security must be more specific to deal with known vulnerabilities in Bluetooth like unauthorized access and unsecured Bluetooth implementations. Most users don’t consider that there is a problem with Bluetooth security, but hackers are able to access your smartphone and other Bluetooth enabled devices to get information from contact list to more delicate information.
Fortunately, there are some security checks you can apply to your Bluetooth connection to make it secure. There are three basic means of establishing Bluetooth security:
Authentication:
The identification of connecting Bluetooth devices are verified. User confirmation is not the part of leading Bluetooth security elements of the specification.
Confidentiality:
Confidentiality prevents data being eavesdropped by assuring that only authorized Bluetooth devices can access and view the data.
Authorization:
Authorization is an approach to block the connection by ensuring that a device is permitted to use a service before allowing it to do so.
One must also follow the advice to improve the protection of your Bluetooth connectivity:
- Configure devices so that the user has to authorize any Bluetooth connection request
- Turn off Bluetooth when not in use
- Do not use Mode 1 in Bluetooth devices; as well as make sure that discovery mode is enabled only when required to pair trusted devices
- Trusted devices should be paired in safe environments
- Modify the range of devices to the shortest reasonable distance
- Install anti-virus and personal firewall software on each built-in Bluetooth devices
From speaker volume to home security system, using a mobile, we are able to control everything in our smart home and Bluetooth devices. So, it is extremely important to keep intruders out and protect your Bluetooth devices from any other form of vulnerabilities to enhance the security of your smart devices.