Thieves allegedly used signal jammer to fool San Jose man's Nest security camera

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- This enigma unfolds in a manner reminiscent of numerous others, occurring during the late hours of the night.

The story commenced on the front porch of Jim Grubb's residence in San Jose, where the barking of his dog roused him from sleep.

He states that they awoke, descended the stairs, discovered the front door slightly open, and remarked to themselves, "It appears we must have left the door ajar last night."

The following morning, new evidence emerged. Grubb discovered that several items were missing, including a laptop and a drone.

He stated, "I accessed the Nest video camera positioned at our front door. The intruder was present in the front yard; the footage revealed a flashlight, and at times, his beanie cap was visible."

wifi jammer

He continues by stating, "...and as I observe the video, I begin to notice these gaps within it, and I find that there are numerous gaps present."

There are portions of the video where we could potentially discern the thief's face.

Jim reached out to Nest customer support and was informed that the video doorbell had been communicating with the router without any interference prior to the incident.

He expressed his disbelief, stating, "I was astonished by this revelation. Consequently, I began conducting some research and discovered that it is possible to purchase a small microcontroller. This device can effectively de-authorize clients connected to your Wi-Fi network, thereby creating interference."

The items are priced at $7 each. For a total of $50, Grubb discovered a wrist model that provides enhanced precision in control. Although Grubb lacks concrete evidence, he is concerned that thieves might be interfering with Wi-Fi signals.

Google has expressed uncertainty regarding the situation, stating to 7 On Your Side: "Google Nest is dedicated to ensuring the privacy and security of our customers. We are currently aware of an isolated issue with the Nest Hello Doorbell, and our team is thoroughly investigating... there is no indication that the device was intentionally compromised."

Tristan Perry, a technology blogger hailing from Wales, has been examining this matter for some time and asserts that it is not particularly surprising.

It is widely recognized that Wi-Fi can encounter various problems, such as difficulties with mobile devices, interruptions during Zoom calls, or pauses in Netflix streaming, as stated in an interview with 7 On Your Side.