Proliferation of wireless signal jammers
Communications jamming technology is falling into the hands of paramilitary groups and criminals
Our society is increasingly dependent on wireless technology. We wake up in the morning, check email via WiFi, unlock and start the car with the keychain in our pocket, and use our cell phones to make important calls on our way to work. When we go to a new place, we rely on GPS to guide us. Stolen or misplaced items can be located via LoJack or wireless AirTags. On a larger scale, much of our military and civilian infrastructure depends on wireless communications. Unfortunately, these signals are vulnerable to another type of wireless device: signal jammers.
In general, jammers simply disrupt existing wireless signals by flooding them with noise. By adjusting the jammer to a specific target frequency range and emitting a high-power noise, tone, or pulse, the jammer can interfere with nearby receivers trying to listen for that frequency. Traditionally, this has meant interfering with radio communications, but the same core principles apply to other types of wireless signals - cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and so on. Jammer ranges vary depending on the power and size of the device; In urban environments, small handheld jammers may be effective at a range of 100 meters or less, while large military-grade jammers can be installed in locations that easily cover hundreds of miles of open terrain.