Digital Blues: An Investigation into the Use of Bluetooth Protocols

TL;DR

This study investigates real-world Bluetooth device usage and security vulnerabilities by analyzing data collected from a coffee shop, providing insights into current protocols and laying groundwork for future security testing.

Contribution

It offers empirical data on actual Bluetooth protocol usage and security issues, supporting future research in Bluetooth security testing.

Findings

Identified 478 distinct Bluetooth devices in a one-week period.

Provided insights into protocols used by the general public.

Established foundational data for future Bluetooth security research.

Abstract

The proliferation of Bluetooth mobile device communications into all aspects of modern society raises security questions by both academicians and practitioners. This environment prompted an investigation into the real-world use of Bluetooth protocols along with an analysis of documented security attacks. The experiment discussed in this paper collected data for one week in a local coffee shop. The data collection took about an hour each day and identified 478 distinct devices. The contribution of this research is two-fold. First, it provides insight into real-world Bluetooth protocols that are being utilized by the general public. Second, it provides foundational research that is necessary for future Bluetooth penetration testing research.