Bluetooth is a way of connecting machines to each other without cables or any other physical medium. It uses radio waves to transfer information, so it is very easily affected by attacks. In this let me first give some background information about Bluetooth system and security issues in ad hoc networks, a security framework is introduced for the description of the Bluetooth security layout.
Then both link-level and service-level security schemes are discussed in detail on the basis of the framework and then it concentrates on specific security measures in Bluetooth, mainly authentication, encryption, key management and? ad hoc aspects. Corresponding countermeasures are also proposed in order to improve the Bluetooth security.
CHAPTER-1
Bluetooth is a wireless communications specification named after the 10th century Danish King Harald Blatland, or ?Bluetooth?. King Harald united the separate kingdoms of Denmark and Norway. The Bluetooth specification is intended to ?unite? separate personal computing devices such as laptops, PDAs, palmtops, cell phones and peripherals, like printers for example. In short, Bluetooth is wireless technology intended for short-range radio links to replace cables. Its primary features are voice and data capabilities, robustness, low complexity, low power and low cost.
1.1 THE BLUETOOTH SPECIFICATION
L. M. Ericsson of Sweden invented Bluetooth in 1994. The Bluetooth Special Interest
Group (SIG) was founded by Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba in February
1998, to develop an open specification for short-range wireless communications. The group now consists of over 1900 companies.
Bluetooth is built around the notion of a Personal-Area Network or PAN. It operates in the 2.4GHz radio frequency band, offers 721Kb data rates, and has a range of
approximately 10 meters. Application of Bluetooth technology has also been extended to offer wireless access to LANs, PSTN, the mobile phone network and the internet.
Since it operates in the 2.4GHz ISM band, the Bluetooth standard is targeted for worldwide approvals so that, anywhere in the world, any Bluetooth enabled device can connect to other Bluetooth devices in its proximity, regardless of manufacturer. According to the specification, Bluetooth devices communicate wirelessly in short- range, ad hoc networks called piconets. Each device can simultaneously communicate with up to seven other devices in the piconet. Also, each device can be a participant in several piconets. These piconets are established automatically as devices enter and leave the radio network.
As a specification, Bluetooth has some new and unique capabilities, but borrows heavily from prior standards, including Motorola's Piano, IrDA, IEEE 802.11, and Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT). The Bluetooth SIG adopted Motorola's Piano to provide for "Personal-Area Networks," (e.g. piconets) to extend the original Bluetooth concept beyond simple cable replacement. Bluetooth voice transmission features are derived from the DECT specification. IrDA specifications give Bluetooth its object exchange capabilities. The IEEE 802.11 specification provided Bluetooth with the 2.4GHz ISM band, frequency-hopping spread spectrum? (FHSS), authentication, privacy, power management, and wireless LAN potential.
??????????? This report gives information about the security measures of Bluetooth, where we examine the Bluetooth security architecture in detail, how they should be different from the old security measures of the cable-connected world and are they sufficient enough, so that Bluetooth can be used for everyday communications. I have examined the Bluetooth security in two parts according to the framework proposed, including the build-in link-level Bluetooth security as the main part, and the service level Bluetooth security architecture as the practice part, respectively. And what possible uses it has.
1.2???? APPLICATIONS
The Bluetooth works for the wide range of applications. These range from straightforward cable replacement to sophisticated networking applications.
Examples:
Wireless headsets for cell phones for hands-free, wire-free phone calls.
Wireless PC Mouse connection to the PC using Bluetooth.
Wireless printing between a PC or handheld and a Bluetooth enabled printer.
Wireless barcode scanner input for retail and warehousing.
Automated synchronization of Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs) and PCs using Bluetooth.
Ad hoc networking and file sharing between PCs, PDAs & laptops in a meeting.
Automated cell phone dialing from a laptop?s contact database with logging of the activity on the laptop.
Internet access for Bluetooth used devices via the Bluetooth enabled device on ?the Internet.
Synchronize contact information between a cell phone, PDA, notebook, and desktop wirelessly.
With automatic synchronization enabled, everyone can see changes to the shared material on his or her own computer.
1.3 BENEFITS
The most basic benefit from Bluetooth is of simple cable replacement between two devices. For many situations were the physical elimination of inconvenient cables that take space and limit device placement. In industrial and commercial applications, the presence of wires creates problems and task interference issues. The wide range of device types and standard interface make by Bluetooth. Which allows selection of devices optimized each for their particular functions. The multi-point capabilities of Bluetooth communications allows one interface to support communications a set of wired and wireless devices are Bluetooth connectable, including office appliances, e.g. desktop PCs, printers, projectors, laptops, and PDAs; communication appliances, e.g. speakers, handsets, pagers, and mobile phones; home appliances, e.g. DVD players, digital cameras, cooking ovens, washing machines, refrigerators, and thermostats. Bluetooth is suitable for a wide range of applications, e.g. wireless office and meeting room, smart home and vehicle, intelligent parking, electrical paying and banking. printers, scanners, scales, PDAs, other PCs, etc.
Bluetooth wireless networking, in general, provides a simple and fast path to ad hoc networks with minimal equipment and overhead.
1.4 CHALLENGES
Widespread adoption of Bluetooth still faces significant hurdles. First and foremost, there remain interoperability issues between products from different vendors. The Bluetooth specification has had a number of ?holes? which left too much latitude between vendors? implementations. While the specification continues to be worked on by the Bluetooth SIG and the IEEE 802.15 task group, interoperability between products is still somewhat spotty. Testing is advised.
Secondly, as a wireless technology, there are concerns around security. Information could be intercepted by other devices. While the basic security and encryption capabilities of the specification are fundamentally sound, vendor implementations can vary.
There is potential for interference in HIGHLY congested areas.
Finally, there is significant competition from IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN technology which has seen tremendous market acceptance and price drops in the past two years. This technology has many of the same capabilities as Bluetooth, much greater speed and range and costs in line with early Bluetooth radios.
1.5 PROSPECTS
Cable replacement and Wireless Personal-Area Networks (PANs) represent the major opportunities for Bluetooth technology in the near future. For Bluetooth technology to achieve ubiquitous adoption, interoperability, security and interference issues must be addressed, vendors must bring more, and a wider array of products to market and chip pricing must become significantly less expensive.
To be fair, as with many emerging technologies, Bluetooth specifications and products will mature and eventually these issues will be resolved. Then Bluetooth adoption will grow exponentially.
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