How secure is Bluetooth?

[spiritman]

I'm planning to buy a bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.

What concerns me is the possibility of someone else listening in on a conversation if I use a bluetooth headset and, also, of someone else being able to instigate a call from my handset if I leave bluetooth enabled. Is there a safeguard against this? Thanks.

[Xoder]

The bluetooth spec allows for (and encourages) encryption. However, even without it, it is extremely difficult to snoop because of the frequency-hopping nature of Bluetooth. Of course that's just really another name for security-by-obscurity, but it *does* help, really. Aside from the encryption, there is also an authentication step (called "pairing") in the Bluetooth protocol. This would prevent calls from being made that you do not desire.

Originally Posted by spiritman

I'm planning to buy a bluetooth-enabled mobile phone.

What concerns me is the possibility of someone else listening in on a conversation if I use a bluetooth headset and, also, of someone else being able to instigate a call from my handset if I leave bluetooth enabled. Is there a safeguard against this? Thanks.

[spiritman]

Originally Posted by Xoder

The bluetooth spec ....

Thank you for that. It's the first straight answer I've had! (All the cellphone stores are only interested in your money and have no idea how to explain that element of bluetooth properly!)
Thanks again.

[Xoder]

Originally Posted by spiritman

... have no idea how to explain that element of bluetooth properly!)
Thanks again.

They probably have no idea how the damn things work. Myself, I've never even touched a Bluetooth headset, but I know enough about Bluetooth to know what it would have to do.

[pappan]

Aside from the encryption, there is also an authentication step (called "pairing") in the Bluetooth protocol. This would prevent calls from being made that you do not desire.

[fast1]

i did not know that, thanks for sharing!