Attacks And Defense in Short Range Wireless Technologies for IOT

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the widespread adoption of short-range wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, NFC, and Wi-Fi. These technologies enable seamless device-to-device communication in smart homes, healthcare, industrial automation, and other IoT domains. However, their open and wireless nature introduces several security vulnerabilities. Common attacks include eavesdropping, replay attacks, man-inthe-middle (MITM), jamming, spoofing, and unauthorized access, all of which pose significant threats to data privacy, device integrity, and network availability. To mitigate these threats, robust defense mechanisms are essential. Techniques such as encryption, secure authentication protocols, frequency hopping, access control, and firmware updates play a crucial role in enhancing the security posture of IoT systems. Additionally, employing intrusion detection systems (IDS) and adopting secure pairing methods can further protect against evolving cyber threats. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of prevalent attacks targeting short-range wireless technologies in IoT and explores effective countermeasures. By understanding both the vulnerabilities and defenses, stakeholders can design more secure and resilient IoT systems capable of withstanding modern cyber threats while maintaining efficient and reliable communication.