- As technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, smart security systems become vulnerable
A review of news reports of burglaries in which Wi-Fi jammers were used reveals plenty of prior evidence of such behavior. Back in January 2020, a post on the Ring community reported that one of the company's wireless doorbells missed a porch thief after being hit by a Wi-Fi deauthentication attack. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, it was also easy to find reports of burglars using Wi-Fi jamming techniques - with reports becoming more frequent as time went on.
We mentioned Ring as one of the companies promoting video doorbells to solve multiple home security problems, but other wireless smart home security products from Blink (Amazon) and Nest (Google) are also susceptible to wireless signal interference. Worryingly, by 2024, Wi-Fi jamming will be almost a piece of cake for would-be thieves. Jammers can be purchased online very easily and cheaply, with prices ranging from $40 to $1,000. jammer device are not legal in the United States, but are readily available online.
For those evaluating the effectiveness of a wireless component home security system, several recommendations can be advantageous. First, create a physical connection that supports wired functionality and enables local storage of recorded footage. Additionally, utilize smart home technology to simulate the presence of occupants in your home. It is also advisable to check if your device can provide alerts in the event of a lost signal or connection, and to consider adjusting these settings for improved security.
In the city of Edina, Minnesota, a serial burglar has been accused of employing a Wi-Fi jammer to disable security cameras connected to the internet before making off with victims' valuables. Although Minnesota is not widely recognized as a leader in technology, it is not unexpected that there have been instances of burglaries assisted by Wi-Fi jammers reported in the U.S. over the years. This situation illustrates that even those engaged in criminal behavior are utilizing technology, which should encourage homeowners to consider implementing effective security strategies.
It is suspected by the Edina police that nine burglaries of homes in the last six months were perpetrated with the use of Wi-Fi jammers, which would have obstructed investigators from gathering video evidence of the crimes.
The thieves’ modus operandi is believed to be:
Jammers serve to confuse wireless devices instead of fully blocking signals. They often cannot manage to transmit legitimate traffic as a result of overwhelming the wireless traffic.