News article: Bluetooth Phones Could Leak Data

Bluetooth Phones Could Leak Data

Security researchers say manufacturers skeptical of their claim of easy hacking methods.

Andrew Brandt, PC World

Monday, August 02, 2004

LAS VEGAS--Many of the most popular models of Bluetooth-enabled cell phones can be hacked easily, enabling a malicious hacker to steal phone books, images, calendar information, or virtually anything else stored on the phone, say a pair of security experts.

...Herfurt demonstrated three different ways to attack a phone: He could send unsolicited text messages to the phone's screen, download all the data stored on a phone (or manipulate the data on the phone itself), and turn the phone into a roaming bug by forcing a targeted phone to call another phone.

This last attack, which the pair call "BlueBugging," is potentially the most damaging because once the attacker initiates a call on the victim's phone, there's no need to stay within Bluetooth range, typically about 30 feet. The target need only be in a phone service area to be exploited.

FULL STORY: http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,...d,117203,00.asp



Leaning more and more toward the Treo 600............... :roll: