Read more.This Bluetooth keyboard for Windows, iOS and Android will be available this summer for $100.
Read more.This Bluetooth keyboard for Windows, iOS and Android will be available this summer for $100.
How come Microsoft can introduce stuff like this but ignore the X-Box one media center extender capability that has been under review since it's release.
Not a word on encryption/security? In almost all of the cases where this might be useful for my tablet or smart-phone (texts, web browsing, documentation etc.), I wouldn't want the data transmitted in the clear over Bluetooth. You'd think they'd make some nod towards security, I would've thought it'd be a major concern for something like this.
I must admit, I'm a bit behind on Bluetooth revisions (I barely use it, save for audio streaming); how secure is 4.1?
Last edited by D-T; 03-03-2015 at 02:23 PM.
I know what you're getting at, and I'm pretty sure that the answer is that there isn't any kind of encryption. It's for that reason that the security folks at my employer pretty much ban the use of Bluetooth keyboards, (which is partly why I'm using a Logitech "Unifying" setup - because this is encrypted). On the other hand the article does say:
so if your host device supports a MicroUSB-connected keyboard then at least you won't be broadcasting passwords etc.sers will be able to pair the keyboard with two devices at a time via Bluetooth or via a microUSB cable, allowing them to quickly switch from typing on one gadget to another with the tap of a key.
I think most of the security updates went into 2.1 with the later updates extending it to low power devices. Most of the security problems with Bluetooth have been with implementation issues rather than the core specification. Overall, BT is well studied and well understood from a security perspective, and has always had security built in which has been updated over the years.
For starters if someone wants to eavesdrop your BT keyboard then AIUI they need to constantly record all 80 Bluetooth radio channels to get the raw packets as without the pairing keys they won't know which channel the next packet is hopping out on. Frankly it is hard enough that they would be better off trying to provoke a man in the middle attack by somehow forcing you to re-pair. That would probably need a social engineering attack, and if they are that bothered then it would probably be easier to just break into your workplace and install some malware on your PC.
This is rather better than cheap wireless keyboards where encryption means eg xor-ing the data with the MAC address of the keyboard.
How sensitive is your text message that you think basic Bluetooth isn't enough?
This is news?
I had a folding full size keyboard for my Palm PDA, which compared to this was more compact and had a much smaller gap through the middle.
Interesting post - thanks. If it's any help there's a brief description available at Secure Connect - Logitech. If I remember the security folks arguments, it was along the lines that you suggest - that a broad spectrum would have to be monitored. However, their view was that while this wasn't a simple task, it was still eminently possible.
Remember that they (MS) are targetting this device at the BYOD crew, so it's pretty possible that some of the "broadcast" data will be commercially sensitive data. Then again, if you're sitting working on the company "5 year plan" in a public place then you really deserve a good slap. AFAIK the range of Bluetooth is pretty short, so any one trying to eavesdrop needs to be pretty close.
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