With California's recently enacted law requiring everyone to use a Bluetooth headset while driving, a couple warnings are going out to make sure your information and conversations are secure as you happily jabber with your best friend or discuss your corporate strategy to dethrone Google.

bluetooth security

C|Net News has posted some security tips for keeping whatever you are talking about from wandering into the hands of unscrupulous persons for nefarious ends.

Security experts discussed the risks to Bluetooth users at the Last HOPE (Hackers on Planet Earth) conference in New York City this weekend, warning people to change the default password, turn off the headsets when not in use and limit access to the data when communicating with other devices.

You know, I hadn't even thought about changing the default password. One of the things people like is how easy they are to pair with your phone since it's now the law and everything.

Basically, any device that can "discover" another Bluetooth device can send unsolicited messages or do things that could lead to extra fees, data being compromised or corrupted, data stolen in an attack called "bluesnarfing," or the device being infected with a virus, the advisory said.

So, you've been warned and given the ammunition to stop "bluesnarfing", which is one of the words that hasn't made it into the official technology lingo yet but could be on its way as more states adopt similar mandatory Bluetooth while driving laws.

Here's the link to the advisory put out by our very own United States Department of Homeland Security for anyone looking to keep your conversations and information safe.

(Yes, yes, I realize the irony of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security acting as if they really care about protecting your personal privacy. I just report the news.)

C|Net News

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