How
secure is a Bluetooth network?
A: Bluetooth is extremely secure in that it employs
several layers of data encryption and user authentication
measures. Bluetooth devices use a combination of the
Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a Bluetooth
address to identify other Bluetooth devices. Data
encryption (i.e., 128-bit) can be used to further enhance
the degree of Bluetooth security. The transmission scheme
(FHSS) provides another level of security in itself.
Instead of transmitting over one frequency within the 2.4
GHz band, Bluetooth radios use a fast frequency-hopping
spread spectrum (FHSS) technique, allowing only
synchronized receivers to access the transmitted data.
What
is Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)?
A: Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) is a spread
spectrum modulation scheme that uses a narrowband carrier
that changes frequency in a pattern known to both
transmitter and receiver. Properly synchronized, they
maintain a single logical channel. To an unintended
receiver, FHSS appears as short-duration impulse noise.
More simply, the data is broken down into packets and
transmitted to the receiver of other devices over numerous
"hop frequencies" (79 total) in a pseudo random
pattern. Only transmitters and receivers that are
synchronized on the same hop frequency pattern will have
access to the transmitted data. The transmitter switches
hop frequencies 1,600 times per second to assure a high
degree of data security.
Will
Bluetooth and Wireless LAN (WLAN) interfere with each
other?
A: No, both
Bluetooth and WLAN can co-exist. Since Bluetooth devices
use Frequency Hopping and most WLANs use Direct Sequence
Spreading techniques they each appear as background noise
to the other and should not cause any perceivable
performance issues.
more
infomation about bluetooth security available at www.mobileinfo.com
