Bluebugging

Security is an important issue with the increased use of mobile devices and the use of Bluetooth technology to transfer data between mobile devices. Bluebugging allows one to execute some of the internal commands of another person’s mobile device through the use of Bluetooth technology. The victim can’t even recognize that his phone is under attack.

Bluebugging allows a hacker to make phone calls, send SMS, and read private messages, as well as copy and change the contact list. Fortunately, only some of the earlier phones with Bluetooth capability were vulnerable to such an attack. The new phones are much more secure and don’t have such vulnerability. (Mostly models starting in 2005 were corrected from this flaw.) The Nokia 6310 and 8910 series and the Sony Ericsson T610 are probably the worst affected because they are very popular phones. Although Bluebugging is still possible, it is much more difficult and not possible with normal devices.

Bluebugging is related to the following security threats:

• Intrusion
• Data theft
• Cracking