Any special antivirus for bluetooth in laptop or the normal ones are fine

India
March 4, 2008 1:51am CST
I have Bluetooth in my laptop , which I have not yet used as of such. Do I need to have any special antivirus to protect my laptop, or the normal antivirus is sufficient to protect it from crashing down. Is there a need to be extra careful while loading pictures from mobile through bluetooth. When my bluetooth is on, can anyone knowingly or unknowingly transfer files to my computer. If yes, will it affect my laptop with virus?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Mar 08
I would expect the usual antivirus programs to cover bluetooth nowadays. The integration of bluetooth into a laptop is commonplace, so it is logical to assume that the antivirus software companies will protect this . All the major antivirus companies are constantly updating their products. As for someone accessing your laptop via bluetooth, this would be the same scenario as a mobile phone and depend on the settings that you are using. Go into the settings and you will be able to select who can see the laptop and what permissions this gives other people. As long as permission is required to transfer files then you should have no problems.
1 person likes this
• India
4 Mar 08
Thanks, I will go to the setting and checkout the details. I was dreading to use bluetooth till now. I think I can go ahead now.
@chunter (1759)
• Singapore
4 Mar 08
The normal ones are good enough...Because if there is intrusion to your data, your antivirus should be able to pick up and alert you about it. What you should do is to disable the Bluetooth when not in use. Only turn it on when you want to use it. No one can unknowingly transfer files to your PC because you need to acknowledge the transfer. Moreover, Bluetooth transfer usually requires password from the sender to the receiver. So if the sender didn't provide you with a password, you will not be able to receive the transmission
• India
4 Mar 08
Thanks, I think you are right, that my antivirus should alert me about any intrusion. Thanks for the information, I didn't know that a password has to be sent while file transfering. Do I have to give a pass to sent files via bluetooth.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
4 Mar 08
It works the same way as a mobile phone, with a 4 digit numerical code being chosen. As long as both bluetooth devices insert the same code you can transfer the data. You can also choose to pair with other devices, which once again will require a code but thereafter transfer between those 2 will be automatic. My computer and laptop are both paired with my mobile phone so I can send files without requesting permission.
@chunter (1759)
• Singapore
4 Mar 08
Well, the last time I did a transfer with my friend, it prompted for a password or keyphrase to be entered. I think its for security reason...