How to stop wifi jammer attacks on home security systems

Recently, a news story originating from Queens, New York captivated audiences as it depicted a burglar smoothly gliding across the floor, clutching an unknown device. Speculation arose, suggesting that the device in question was a wifi jammer, cleverly utilized by the intruder to disrupt the home's wifi network and render the alarm system useless, thereby ensuring his undetected presence.

Is this even possible? Yes, yes it is.

So what is a wifi jammer?

Generally, these jamming devices create a signal that causes interference on the spectrums utilized by 3G, 4G, 5G, cordless, and wifi networks. Essentially, they impact all of these networks.

The excessive noise effectively hinders devices from utilizing the frequencies required for normal operation. Consequently, this interference also affects emergency networks utilized by first responders, leading to the prohibition of such devices. However, these illegal devices are manufactured and sold on the black market, and individuals have the capability to construct their own. It is advised against searching for instructions online, as it may result in being placed under surveillance.

The purpose of a jammer is to produce interference that interferes with the frequencies used by our devices, rendering them ineffective. As these frequencies propagate from the signal blocker device, they have the capability to impede a wide range of devices, even those not specifically targeted by the user.

Now that you are aware of this, do you think it could cause disruptions to your phones, alarm sensors, alarm base station, smart locks, and wifi cameras? Yes, it is a valid concern.

It is understandable if you have the following question: "Andy, my alarm system has a cellular backup in case the wifi connection fails. Will it continue to operate?" Unfortunately, that is not the case. The sensors will lose their ability to communicate with the base station due to the interference caused by these jammers. It is important to remember that these jammers not only disrupt wifi signals but also block mobile spectrums, thereby preventing your base station from making calls over wifi or a cellular network.

How To Stop Wifi Jammer and Deauth Attacks

Now that we have insight into the types of attacks and their effects, how can we effectively counteract them? Have you heeded my advice against prominently displaying the alarm company branded sign in your yard?

That is the rationale behind keeping your home security details private to prevent criminals from taking advantage of any vulnerabilities. Identifying businesses that operate on the 2.4 GHz band is a straightforward task.

When investing in new smart home technology, prioritize devices that support dual-band connectivity or operate on the 5 gigahertz spectrum. While WPA3 security is said to offer protection against such attacks, the extent of its effectiveness remains unclear to me as a beginner. Unfortunately, wireless alarm systems are currently vulnerable to jammer attacks.

You have the option to choose a conventional method by setting up a fully wired home alarm system that functions using a landline connection. As long as there are no wireless features, you should be fine.

Security Cameras With SD Card Storage

Cameras offered by companies like Ring are equipped with local storage functionality. This means that in situations where wifi is down or cloud storage is not available, these cameras utilize their internal storage to store recorded clips. Although you may not receive notifications, you can conveniently review the footage by accessing the SD card directly within the camera.

In order to enhance the security of your home, it is advisable to supplement your wifi camera system with an affordable local storage camera. This way, even if you encounter a jammer or deauth attack, you will have one camera that continues to capture footage. However, it is important to consider that if the attackers become aware of the camera's presence, they may attempt to destroy it and steal it.