How Bluetooth can be an attack gateway

Recent data indicates there are 26.6 billion IoT devices currently in use in 2019 and this figure is set to rise significantly to 75 billion by 2025. While these IoT devices offer a range of benefits, contributing to more intelligent enterprises, they also create new security risks that work around antivirus protections.

For instance, one threat which is often overlooked is Bluetooth. While most people think of Bluetooth as a harmless technology that facilitates wireless connections between devices, it can actually create significant security risks when not managed properly, especially when users forget to add in authentication measures.

Connectivity comes with risk

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Initially developed in 1998, Bluetooth is a wireless communication protocol that connects devices together. Whether using the latest wireless headphones, connecting phones to car handsfree systems or transferring files to colleagues, Bluetooth has proven to be a convenient tool in this wireless age. So much so, it has now established itself as standard technology, built within nearly every device or computer system on the market. However, like any piece of tech, convenience exposes vulnerabilities and security risks, causing endless headaches for the modern security professional.

Sophisticated hackers with sinister intent have exploited several Bluetooth flaws to steal data or install malware, whether that be via Bluetooth chips, targeting mobile devices or even navigating through car entertainment systems. Some of the most high-profile Bluetooth attacks include:

• BlueBorne– a zero-day vulne