Watch what you say on the Blue-Tooth!

[bj229r]

link

I guess all learn-in-serial number stuff is just so your phone doesn't listen to all the others as well

Wall Street executives and K Street lawyers beware: It's easy to eavesdrop on those wireless-phone headsets you love so much. In some cases, all it takes is a simple off-the-shelf radio scanner.

"These guys are bugging their own office essentially," said security consultant Doug Shields.

A client recently asked him to test wireless headsets against an inexpensive commercial scanner capable of monitoring frequencies between 900 megahertz and 1.2 gigahertz, where many of the popular hands-free headsets operate.

The scanner could pick up conversations inside buildings as far away as 600 feet.

"Sometimes, when the other party has hung up, the wireless connection remains open and you can hear what [the party at your end] is saying afterwards."

From a position across the street from his client's office, Mr. Shields was able to record conversations by employees, including commercially sensitive information.

"Some of this stuff, if you traded on it, you'd never have to work again," said Mr. Shields, a partner with Secure Network Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y.

Scott Beratino, executive editor of Chief Security Officer magazine, said he knew of cases in which the technique was employed for corporate espionage.

[Spikes]

That sucks...I've got a blue tooth too.

[Maverick]

Anything you broadcast through the air is subject to interception.

[Treize69]

I get my neighbors cell phone and cordless phone conversations on my scanner all the time.

We also get State Police band radio transmissions bleeding over onto our system at work daily.

[Chairboy]

Um, this article...  is not about bluetooth.  It's about the wireless headsets for phones, like the one I have next to me by Plantronics.  It hooks into my Meridian/Nortel phone.

Bluetooth uses some basic encryption and digital signal processing, so the equipment needed to eavesdrop on it is quite a bit more complicated than the off-the-shelf stuff this article describes.

And the title of the thread is...  dramatically incorrect.

[SIK1]

Well duh!

Any time you use a wireles broadcast there is the possibility that someone can pick up the signal.  Some signals are just easier than others.

It always amazes me that people are surprised by this fact.

[Jackal1]

Beam me up Scotty.

[bj229r]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Um, this article...  is not about bluetooth.  It's about the wireless headsets for phones, like the one I have next to me by Plantronics.  It hooks into my Meridian/Nortel phone.

Bluetooth uses some basic encryption and digital signal processing, so the equipment needed to eavesdrop on it is quite a bit more complicated than the off-the-shelf stuff this article describes.

And the title of the thread is...  dramatically incorrect.

I think you're right----so, the confabs from ear-buds for cell phones cannot be intercepted?

[Chairboy]

Oh, I'm sure they can, but I'm pretty sure the equipment and skill needed are a lot more expensive and refined respectively.  The article talked about taking off-the-shelf scanners and listening, that just won't do it w/ bluetooth.

[Treize69]

They can be, but its probably not as easy as sitting out on the sidewalk with a scanner and headphones.