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Bluetooth keyboards - secure enough?

K

keldog7

Senior member
I'm considering buying a bluetooth keyboard for a HTPC rig, which also happens to be used to surf the web frequently. One of my requirements is that I can, with peace of mind, type my passwords into a Bluetooth keyboard, without worrying that someone is "sniffing" Bluetooth packets from nearby.
Can anyone comment on the security features of Bluetooth, and whether or not I should be worried?
 
With the right equipment, any RF signal can be monitored. Having said that, only very sophisticated government agencies have that capability.

Having said that - 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.

Also, the nominal transmission range of Bluetooth is about 30 feet or 10 meters.

Bottom line - unless you are engaged in illegal activity, not to worry. 🙂
 
There have certainly been various reports of security issues with Bluetooth, mostly bugs in specific device firmwares; but I wouldn't much worry. Someone motivated enough to RF snoop your keyboard would probably use an easier method anyway. It's an order of magnitude trickier and less common than wardriving type stuff, if probably easier than Tempest scanning.
 
i guess i figured that with the range of the rf signal of my mouse (6-10 feet), an attacker would have to be in the room with me to snoop on my keyboard musings. But with the 30 feet of bluetooth, they could be outside - hence the concern & question
 
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