Bluetooth-enabled mobiles and PDAs can pose a real security risk to organisations, if employees leave them open to snooping. Research carried out by wireless security consultants Orthus found that 49 percent of Bluetooth device owners were vulnerable to "Bluesnarfing", where calls can be hijacked, personal data can be stolen or other violations can take place.
Martin Allen, managing director of mobile data security company Pointsec, said Bluesnarfing was a "silent threat which you wouldn't even know is happening to you."
"People keep a lot of confidential information on their PDAs and mobiles such as passwords, pin numbers, bank account details, customers names and addresses and within seconds this can be pulled by a hacker or competitor from right under their nose," he said.