How Thieves Are Using Wi-Fi Jammers to Break Into Homes (2024)

(TNS) — A group of thieves have been outsmarting smart devices across the Los Angeles area, authorities said.

In a March 4 statement by the Los Angeles Police Department, officers warn that a group in Wilshire is using Wi-Fi jamming technology to disarm surveillance cameras and alarm systems that rely on Wi-Fi.

This swarm of tech-savvy robberies in California is part of a larger “smart” crime wave happening nationwide. Last year, police in Minnesota and Connecticut issued similar warnings to residents when groups of Wi-Fi jamming thieves made their rounds. And those are just two examples of many.


While the Federal Communications Commission has banned Wi-Fi jamming devices, this doesn’t stop criminals from buying them cheaply, KARE11 reported. Wi-Fi jamming devices don’t necessarily deactivate devices, but work by overloading the network the devices are connected to.

“These (jamming) devices create traffic jams for the radio transmitter so that real traffic cannot get through,” cybersecurity expert Mark Lanterman told the outlet.

“If you are going to use a Wi-Fi camera for your front door, perhaps consider using a hardline camera inside your home,” he said. Wired cameras connected via Ethernet cables do not rely on Wi-Fi networks and would not be disrupted by a Wi-Fi jammer.

Los Angeles police also recommends hard wiring burglary alarm systems.

While “smart” technology may be part of the problem, it may also have a hand in the solution, according to Tom’s Hardware. Officials recommend using timers or smart home devices to make it look like someone is home while you are away. Some smart home technology also comes with the ability to alert users if the signal or connection has been interrupted.

Tom’s Hardware also recommends connecting surveillance devices that store camera footage directly on your device, and not just to a cloud storage system. By having a camera that records to itself, you’ll have footage saved during a Wi-Fi disruption.

The LAPD also encourages people to stay vigilant by locking their doors, relying on neighbors to check on things when away and reporting any strange activity, including suspicious vehicles with temporary or dealer plates.

© 2024 The Idaho Statesman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How Thieves Are Using Wi-Fi Jammers to Break Into Homes (2024)

FAQs

How Thieves Are Using Wi-Fi Jammers to Break Into Homes? ›

These days, most jammers work by targeting a single security device, such as a doorbell camera, and blocking its connection to the network long enough for intruders to get past it without being seen. The prevalence of Wi-Fi jammers is growing, and their documented use in home invasion crimes has been expanding.

How to tell if a signal jammer is being used? ›

The most common symptom of cell phone signal jammer interference is, you guessed it, dropped service. While apps do exist that claim to detect signal jammers, they are largely unproven, and require a working signal to function.

Do thieves use Wi-Fi jammers? ›

The gang places cellular and Wi-Fi jammers around the homes they're targeting. This way, security cameras and phones are useless. A Phoenix police officer told me the gang probably noticed nothing was down in our house. Our home's security cameras and internet are hard-wired.

Do Wi-Fi blockers work? ›

Using a Wi-Fi signal blocker is a great opportunity that will help protect your personal data from third-party interference and reduce the possible risks of information loss in using modern technologies. Regardless of what you use the Internet for, a blocker can be an excellent way to protect the whole family.

How do thieves disable Wi-Fi? ›

The thief was scared off and the resident was not injured, but it's a growing crime nationwide. The device, known as a 'WiFi jammer' sends a powerful pulse that temporarily disables wireless devices. "Yeah it also disrupts cell signals - anything that uses wireless communications it'll disrupt 100 percent," said Ford.

Is there a way to detect a WiFi jammer? ›

A radio frequency spectrum analyzer will show the jamming signal like a bright beacon, and a directional antenna can be used to locate it.

Can you block a signal jammer? ›

If your phone can function on several frequencies, you can protect against the jammer simply by using a different frequency. Usually, the blocking of 5G devices is more difficult.

What can stop a Wi-Fi jammer? ›

One of the primary defenses against WiFi jammers is enabling WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3), which is built into a majority of our networks today; this enhances the security of wireless networks by making it significantly more challenging for unauthorized individuals to interfere with the communication between devices ...

Is owning a signal jammer illegal? ›

The use of a phone jammer, GPS blocker, or other signal jamming device designed to intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications is a violation of federal law. There are no exemptions for use within a business, classroom, residence, or vehicle.

Can a WiFi router be used as a jammer? ›

Jamming devices that broadcast on a wide range of frequencies at once can disrupt everything from police radar to GPS systems, and are illegal in many countries. You can use your own WiFi router instead, or another wireless device that broadcasts on a more narrow range of frequencies.

What blocks Wi-Fi signal the most? ›

Metal: Heavy or dense metal is the most difficult material to penetrate. Metal also has the unique ability to absorb and disrupt the signal. Larger objects made of metal, including doors, walls, and beams, can block WiFi signal significantly.

What security system cannot be jammed? ›

Purchase a professionally installed system

Most DIY security systems are easier to jam than professionally installed systems such as Vivint, ADT, and Brinks. That's because most professionally installed systems have encryption designed to prevent these attacks. Not all DIY systems do.

How do I get past a WiFi blocker? ›

You can bypass Wi-Fi restrictions by using services like a VPN, Tor, and proxy. They obfuscate the websites and services you want to access. This way, the Wi-Fi firewall doesn't know what to block.

Does turning off Wi-Fi stop hackers? ›

When in doubt, simply disable your Wi-Fi radio when you're not using it, as this will prevent most Wi-Fi-based attacks. By taking the steps above, it's easy to reduce the risk of your Wi-Fi device joining a malicious network automatically, being tracked between locations, or leaking personal information.

How is my neighbor stealing my Wi-Fi? ›

Someone could steal your Wi-Fi if your network isn't secured by a password. This means anyone can connect without needing to log in. Other ways your Wi-Fi could be stolen include: You gave out your Wi-Fi password and didn't change it.

How do I make sure my Wi-Fi is private? ›

Steps to Secure Your Home WiFi Network
  1. Protect your network with a strong password. ...
  2. Change the network name. ...
  3. Create a guest WiFi network. ...
  4. Turn on your router's encryption. ...
  5. Regularly update your router. ...
  6. Disable SSID broadcasting. ...
  7. Use a VPN for further protection.
Feb 7, 2023

Are jammers detectable? ›

The detection of a jammer can prevent car thefts, robberies and crime. An output is also available to trigger a siren or LED that a jammer is detected. Digitpol's JamDetect module will detect illegal jammers in use for Vehicle thefts.

How are jamming attacks detected? ›

The first scheme is the Jamming-Attack Detection (JAD) scheme, which exploits the difference of noise variances between the handshaking and communication stages. The second scheme is the Composite Jamming-Attack Detection (CJAD) scheme, which exploits the difference of noise variances between Alice and Bob.

How to detect jammer nearby? ›

A WiFi jammer will typically transmit on the same frequency as your network, so it should appear as a nearby device. A WiFi scanner app or tool can show you the strength of the WiFi signal, the signal-to-noise ratio, and the number of connected devices, which can help you identify any suspicious activity.

Can a GPS jammer be detected? ›

Anti-jamming and anti-spoofing systems can distinguish true GPS signals from jammers and spoofers, enabling GPS location and timing services to continue even while under attack. CRFS recommends that law enforcement implement a wider strategy of spectrum monitoring to combat the rise in GPS jamming activity.

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