7. Probable Solutions
Many users are victims of Bluetooth threats. Recently, Bluetooth threats have been reduced due to the fact the manufacturers of Bluetooth devices have taken preventive measures against the threats. Bluetooth version v2.1 released in 2007, introduced “Secure Simple Pairing (SSP)” which improved the prevention against threats. The latest version of Bluetooth v4.2 released in December 2014, introduced “Secure Connections Only mode”, which further improved the security. The anti-virus software these days are also very efficient. But these still does not make Bluetooth a secure technology. Bluetooth devices are continuously increasing and with that hackers are also increasing and getting smarter.
Padgette et al. [3], Panigrahy et al. [15] and Dunning et al. [19], suggested security recommendation from the technical point of view. National Security Agency (NSA) released a paper providing guidlines for Bluetooth developers [42]. Philip et al. [43], proposed a security architecture to fight MITM attack. Here authentication is done using key and chaotic image encryption, which makes the pairing mechanism robust. Zanero et al. [44], proposed a Bluetooth packet sniffer called BlueEar, which can increase the packet capture rate to 90%. Singel et al [45], proposed advanced pairing protocol which enhances the pairing mechanism. No matter what security measures manufacturer are taking, it is always better to be safe from the user side. Bluetooth device with default setting provides a very minimum level of security. So, it is essential for users to personalize the default setting to obtain the maximum possible security. Here are some solutions that every user should follow.
