BLUETOOTH

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BLUETOOTH

• Vicki Bennett

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Bluetooth defined

• Bluetooth is a wireless networking standard
  created for personal area networks (PANs).
• Bluetooth is a cable replacement technology.
• Bluethooth is an IEEE standard under the
  denomination of 802.15 WPANs.

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Uses for Bluetooth

• Cable replacement for
• Cell phone, mouse, keyboard, cordless headset,
  camera, PDA, printer, computer, data capture and
  even some hospital equipment.
• Internet access.

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Features

• Bluetooth provides cheap connection between two
  or more devices.
• Bluetooth has a short range of approximately 10
  meters up to 25 meters.
• Bluetooth offers low speeds of approximately
  1Mbps.

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Features

• Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band.
• The wireless personal area network (WPAN)
  technology is based on the Bluetooth
  specification.

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Bluetooth wireless technology encompasses several
key points

• Bluetooth is an open specification that is
  publicly available and royalty free.
• Bluetooths short-range wireless capability
  allows peripheral devices to communicate over a
  single air-interface (used to communicate between
  a base and handset), replacing the cables that
  use connectors with a multitude of shapes, sizes
  and numbers of pins.

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Bluetooth wireless technology encompasses several
key points

• Bluetooth supports both voice and data, making it
  an ideal technology to enable many types of
  devices to communicate.
• Bluetooth uses an unregulated frequency band
  available anywhere in the world.
• Bluetooth allows large numbers of piconets
  (master device connected to seven slaves) to form
  a scatternet.

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Scatternet

• A scatternet is a group of independent and
  non-synchronized piconets that share at least one
  common Bluetooth device.
• Bluetooth devices must have point-to-multipoint
  capability to engage in scatternet communication.
  
• There may be a maximum of 10 fully loaded
  piconets in a scatternet.

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Security is a huge concern

• Hackers are using Bluetooth to attack mobile
  devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, and
  handsets.

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Security concerns

• There are a number of different types of attacks
• -- attempts to steal data
• -- service disruption
• -- malware distribution

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Bluejacking

• Bluejacking exploits a Bluetooth devices ability
  to discover other nearby devices to send
  unsolicited messages.
• The unsolicited message is then displayed on the
  victims device, potentially causing confusion or
  at least annoyance.

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Bluesnarfing

• Bluesnarfing is when the attacker connects to a
  device without the device owner being notified,
  and accesses local data.
• Such local data can include potentially valuable
  information such as address books and calendars.

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Bluebug Attack

• A Bluebug Attack is when attackers are able to
  create a serial connection to the victim device
  and use this to control data services on the
  device.
• This allows them to connect to data services,
  send and receive messages, and initial phone
  calls.

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Minimizing the security risks

• Immediately identify alert users to known
  vulnerabilities.
• In an organization, avoid the use of unauthorized
  add-ons such as long-range transmitters.
• Educate the staff to Bluesnarfing, Bluejacking,
  and Bluebug Attacks.

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Minimizing the risks

• Use caution when pairing devices.
• The independence on PINs to create encrypted
  connection between devices is the only known
  significant vulnerability in the Bluetooth
  specification and are easy for hackers to
  discover.

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Minimizing the risks

• Look for products with control over Bluetooth.
• Many PDAs feature a switch that lets users turn
  wireless on and off making it easier to turn off
  the wireless when not in use.

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Minimizing the risks

• Consider tools for identifying and mitigating
  security risks.
• Deploy tools to both scan their environments for
  use of Bluetooth technologies as well as monitor
  managed endpoints for such device connections.

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Conclusion

• Bluetooth allows the individual to use and
  network convenient wireless devices. The
  technology is ingrained in society today. Caution
  should be used when securing any device using
  Bluetooth.

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Use of Bluetooth within the Schools

• Students can access information and communicate
  from anywhere in the building and on field trips
  by using hand-held devices using Bluetooth.
• Allows the students to remain actively involved
  in the activity or learning experience.
• Allows for easy download of data.
• Allows for easy communication with other students
  and the teacher.

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Works cited

• Panko, Raymond R. (2005). Business data
  networks and telecommunications. Pearson
  Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ, pp.
  242-243.
• Hernacki, Brian. (2006). Improving bluetooth
  security What IT managers and mobile device
  users can do. Telecommunication and Network
  Security, pp. 39-42.
• Youquan Zheng, Zhenming Feng. (2004).
  Simplification of the Bluetooth Radio Device.
  Networking today, pp. 108-115.
• Technology Review. (2002). Automatic Networks
  Devices that connect themselves could change
  networking, pp. 20-21.