Ten Facts About Bluetooth Every Consumer Wants To Know

You're thinking about purchasing an electronic device, and you want it to have Bluetooth technology. However, you're unsure of a few things, and in the confusing world that is wireless technology, who can blame you? Any kind of new technology can be frightening at first, especially with all of the buzzwords that may be floating around. However, most things boil down to ten or so different facts that every consumer wants to know "" and a lot of those are simply definitions for all of the buzzwords going around.

1. Bluejacking "" what's that?

It sounds somewhat scary "" as though someone's just going to take control of your device, and delete everything on it. But it's actually not that scary. Bluejacking is essentially sending messages anonymously to anyone in a 10-meter range that has Bluetooth technology. These messages are usually somewhat flirtatious in nature. Bluejackers will then wait for either the user of the device to react, or for their phone to go off. Think of it as wireless junk mail. Devices that are in the non-discoverable mode can not be bluejacked.

2. What about bluebugging?

Slightly different from bluesnarfing, bluebugging allows the more skilled hackers out there to break into the mobile phone commands without alerting or notifying the phone's user. Once inside, the hacker is free to make phone calls, send text messages, eavesdrop, or connect to the Internet. Unless they have special equipment, the hacker has to be within 10 meters of the victim.

3. Bluesnarfing?

Bluesnarfing is a technique that hackers use to gain access to various data inside of a Bluetooth phone. They have the ability to access the phonebook, any images on the phone and the calendar. Unlike bluebugging, they will be unable to send or receive text messages or phone calls. Only the specific phones are susceptible to bluesnarfing, and most of those are of the older variety.

4. Are phone manufactures doing anything about this?

Nokia and Sony Ericsson have already developed software upgrades for all of their phones that were vulnerable to these attacks. Both companies have also prepared any new phones they have, so that they will not be unprepared for hacker attacks.

5. Car Whisperer? Excuse me?

The car whisperer is a type of software that was developed for security purposes. It has the ability to receive and send audio to and from Bluetooth car-kits. An individual with this software could connect and communicate with any car that has the right (or wrong) technology, sending audio to the speakers. However, the person with this software would have to stay within 10 meters of the car, so it's unlikely to be too much of a big deal.

6. But what if my car is vulnerable?

Most cars aren't vulnerable to car whisperer, but there is a way to check. First, the car kit would have to be constantly in pairing mode. Secondly, the car kit would have to come with a fixed four digit PIN, something like 0000 or 4321 which could not be changed. If there is a phone connected to the car kit, than the car is not vulnerable to car whisperer. If you're concerned, contact the manufacturer for more details.

7. How else can hackers break into Bluetooth wireless?

As the technology develops, new avenues will open for hackers while old ones will be shut down. At the moment however, car whisperer, bluejacking, bluesnarfing, and bluebugging are the only known ways to break into Bluetooth wireless.

8. What can I do to protect myself?

To start with, check to see if any of the Bluetooth technology you have is susceptible to the attacks listed. If it is, contact the manufacturer for an upgrade. It is also advisable to keep any Bluetooth device that stores personal data in the non-discoverable mode when you know you won't be using it. Just like with junk-mail, if you receive an invitation to pair with someone you don't know "" don't do it.

9. Does a PIN really make that much of a difference?

A PIN for your Bluetooth device is the same as the one for your bank machine. You should always keep your PIN to yourself, and change it frequently. Without your PIN, no one is able to pair with your device.

10. Does pairing in public increase the risk of being hacked?

Yes it does. This is because a hacker could sit on his laptop and monitor all activities in the spectrum, and then using his computer brings up the PIN code. However, this requires specially built hardware and a great knowledge of Bluetooth software.