NIST Releases Final Version of Bluetooth security guide.

Press Release Summary:



NIST has issued final version of Guide to Bluetooth Security (NIST Special Publication 800-121 Rev. 1), which describes security capabilities of technologies based on Bluetooth and gives recommendations on effectively securing such devices. Changes include update to vulnerability mitigation information for "Secure Simple Pairing" as well as introduction of Bluetooth version 3.0 High Speed and Bluetooth version 4.0 Low Energy security mechanisms and recommendations.



Original Press Release:



NIST Releases Final Version of Revised Bluetooth Security Guide



The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the final version of the Guide to Bluetooth Security (NIST Special Publication 800-121 Rev. 1). The publication is a revision of the original guide, which was released in September 2008.

A draft version of the revised document was released for public comment in October 2011. The final version reflects these comments, which recommended no significant changes other than minor technical corrections and rewordings to the draft text.

The Guide to Bluetooth Security describes the security capabilities of technologies based on Bluetooth, an open standard for short-range radio frequency communication, and gives recommendations to organizations on securing their Bluetooth devices effectively. Significant changes from the original SP 800-121 include an update to the vulnerability mitigation information for "Secure Simple Pairing," which helps protect against eavesdropping, and the introduction of Bluetooth version 3.0 High Speed and Bluetooth version 4.0 Low Energy security mechanisms and recommendations. Version 3.0 provides data rate improvement over previous versions of Bluetooth, while 4.0 applies to smaller, resource-constrained devices like heart rate monitors and other wearable medical sensor networks.

The final version of SP 800-121 Rev. 1 is available at http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=911133.

Media Contact: Evelyn Brown, evelyn.brown@nist.gov, 301-975-5661

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