Many electronic devices are now incorporating Bluetooth technology to allow wireless communication with other Bluetooth devices. Before using Bluetooth, it is important to understand what it is, what security risks it presents, and how to protect yourself. Bluetooth technology allows devices to communicate with each other without cables or wires. Bluetooth relies on short-range radio
frequency, and any device that incorporates the technology can communicate as long as it is within the required distance. The technology is often used to allow two different types of devices to communicate with each other. It is an electronics "standard," which means that manufacturers that want to include this feature have to incorporate specific requirements into their electronic devices. These specifications ensure that the devices can recognize and interact with other devices that use
Bluetooth technology. Many personal electronic devices [PEDs] use Bluetooth technology. For example, you may be able to operate your computer with a wireless keyboard or use a wireless headset to talk on your mobile phone. Depending upon how it is configured, Bluetooth technology can be fairly secure. You can take advantage of its use of key authentication [see Understanding
Digital Signatures for more information] and encryption. Unfortunately, many Bluetooth devices rely on short numeric personal identification numbers [PINs] instead of more secure passwords or passphrases [see Choosing and Protecting Passwords for more information]. If someone can "discover" your Bluetooth device, he or she may be able to send you unsolicited messages or abuse your Bluetooth service, which could
cause you to be charged extra fees. Worse, an attacker may be able to find a way to access or corrupt your data. One example of this type of activity is "bluesnarfing," which refers to attackers using a Bluetooth connection to steal information off of your Bluetooth device. Also, viruses or other malicious code can take advantage of Bluetooth technology to infect other devices. If you are infected, your data may be corrupted, compromised, stolen, or lost. You should also be aware of attempts to
convince you to send information to someone you do not trust over a Bluetooth connection [see Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information].What is Bluetooth?
What are some security concerns?
How can you protect yourself?
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What is the range of Bluetooth® technology?
More than a kilometer. Less than a meter.
The effective, reliable range between Bluetooth devices is anywhere from more than a kilometer down to less than a meter.
Use the Bluetooth Range Estimator
What Determines Bluetooth Range?
The longer answer to the question about the range of Bluetooth® technology is it depends.
Unlike other wireless technologies, Bluetooth technology is designed to support a wide range of achievable ranges between two devices, providing developers tremendous flexibility to create wireless solutions that best meet the needs of their target use case.
Several key factors influence the effective range of a reliable Bluetooth connection, including the following:
Radio spectrum stretches from 30 Hz to 300 GHz. The lower the frequency the longer the range. However, the lower the frequency the lower the data rate it can support.
Bluetooth® technology uses the 2.4 GHz ISM spectrum band [2400 to 2483.5 MHz], which enables a good balance between range and throughput. In addition, the 2.4 GHz band is available worldwide, making it a true standard for low-power wireless connectivity.
Bluetooth® technology provides multiple PHY options, each with different characteristics that determine effective range and data rates.
Bluetooth® technology specifies that devices must be able to achieve a minimum receiver sensitivity of -70 dBm to -82 dBm, depending on the PHY used. However, Bluetooth implementations typically achieve much higher receiver sensitivity levels. For example, average implementations of the Bluetooth LE 125K [Coded] PHY are achieving a receiver sensitivity of -103 dBm.
Bluetooth® technology supports transmit powers from -20 dBm [0.01 mW] to +20 dBm [100 mW].
Bluetooth® technology designers can choose to implement a variety of antenna options. Antenna design is as much an art as it is a science. Bluetooth devices typically achieve an antenna gain in the range of –10 dBi to +10 dBi.
Attenuators can be anything from humidity and precipitation, to walls, windows, and other obstacles made of glass, wood, metal, or concrete, including metal towers or panels that reflect and scatter radio waves. While radio waves can pass through objects, the amount of attenuation and effective path loss varies with the type and density of the obstruction. Think about when you are trying to hear someone in the next room and the difference between the volume and clarity of what you can hear if the wall that separates you is made of wood compared to concrete.
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