Companies who develop Bluetooth enabled products have multiple options in order to provide security. There are three security modes for connecting two Bluetooth devices:

1. Security Mode 1: non-secure
2. Security Mode 2: service level enforced security
3. Security Mode 3: link level enforced security

It is the company who develops each specific Bluetooth product that decides which security modes to use. Also, the devices and services have different security levels as well. For example, devices use two levels: "trusted device" and "untrusted device". After a trusted device is connected to another device, it has unrestricted access to all services. As far as services, there are three security levels which are defined: services that require authorization and authentication, services that require authentication only and services that are open to all devices.

The recent Bluetooth security threats have been isolated to Bluetooth cell phones. The issues were due to specific problems with the cell phone’s platforms. In order to solve, and prevent against further security probelems, the Bluetooth SIG and all of its members work together to discover, inspect and solve reported problems.

If there is something wrong with the actual Bluetooth specification, then the Bluetooth SIG will confront the problem directly. However, if the problem is a result of the implementation of Bluetooth technology, then the SIG will work with the specific members in order to release patches and prevent future problems from occurring.

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Bluetooth Security (Part 4)