Securing Bluetooth Low Energy: A Literature Review

TL;DR

This literature review examines Bluetooth Low Energy's core functionalities, applications, and security challenges, emphasizing the need for ongoing research to address emerging cybersecurity threats in IoT and wireless communication systems.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of BLE's functionalities, applications, and security issues, highlighting gaps and future research directions in securing BLE technology.

Findings

BLE is widely used in IoT, healthcare, and industrial automation.

Security threats like sniffing and DoS attacks are significant concerns.

Ongoing research is vital to develop robust security measures for BLE.

Abstract

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, operating within the widely used 2.4 GHz ISM band, stands as a cornerstone in modern wireless communication frameworks alongside its classic Bluetooth counterpart. This paper delves into the foundational aspects of BLE, excluding niche components, to explore its core functionalities and pivotal role in diverse connectivity needs. BLE's specialization in catering to low-power devices ensures optimal energy utilization, making it indispensable in IoT applications where energy efficiency is paramount. Its versatility finds applications across consumer electronics, industrial automation, and healthcare, ensuring reliability and efficiency in safety-critical systems and enhancing user convenience through remote control capabilities. However, the wireless nature of BLE interfaces exposes them to cybersecurity threats, necessitating robust security measures for mitigating risks such as sniffing, DoS attacks, and message injection. Continuous research and development efforts are essential to stay ahead of emerging threats and safeguard BLE-enabled systems and data.