Bluetooth Evolution, Security Risk, and Some Observations
(Room 303B)
06 Nov 25
9:25 AM
-
9:50 AM
Tracks:
Connectivity and IoT - Bluetooth 1
Since its introduction in 1999, Bluetooth has become a foundational connectivity protocol for countless personal, consumer, and industrial applications. Bluetooth has evolved to include enhanced functionality, allowing users to create adaptable solutions for diverse deployment environments. With this growth, the security landscape for Bluetooth has also shifted - bringing both significant progress and fresh challenges.
The IT and IoT security communities continue to raise concerns about Bluetooth’s widespread use in personal devices, prompting manufacturers and users to adopt stronger, up-to-date security practices.
The Bluetooth SIG, its working groups, and industry contributors have worked diligently to implement security enhancements and stricter compliance, but the need for ongoing improvement remains.
Advances like Channel Sounding open new opportunities for access control, hyper-localization, and personal space interactions, yet introduce unique security and privacy risks. Without proven technical solutions and clear communication, adoption of these features may lag, limiting Bluetooth’s potential.
This paper offers a comprehensive overview of Bluetooth’s security evolution, detailing coordinated responses from the Bluetooth SIG and community, and concludes with LTIMindtree’s insights and recommendations from its 25-year Bluetooth legacy.