Bluetooth phone hacking tools spreading quickly

An MP has called for mobile phone manufacturers to make a greater effort and fix the Bluetooth security problems in their handsets after a researcher revealed that software tools enabling a 'bluesnarf' attack are widely available on the internet. Bluesnarfing is a method of hacking into a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone and copying its entire contact book, calendar or anything else stored in the phone's memory. Nokia and Sony Ericsson have admitted some of their handsets are vulnerable and although Sony Ericsson has made an effort to fix the problem, Nokia said the problem is not serious enough to warrant repairing.

Mark Rowe, consultant at security company Pentest, told silicon.com's sister site ZDNet UK that the number of people that know how to perform the attack is quickly increasing and tools that enable the attack are widely available online. "We have been contacted by a number of security researchers that have worked out how to do it themselves without any help from us," Rowe said. "We were concerned when the information was previously published and we were told you need special tools. But in reality, anybody who looked into it in any depth would quickly work out how the attack is possible."

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