Wi-Fi jamming to break past home security isn't quite as science fiction as we'd like. You may have seen the eye-catching headlines about Wi-Fi jammers, with the latest claims coming from an attempted burglary near Houston recently; a suspect held up a backpack to a video camera, which then caused the camera to suffer connectivity issues.
You can find more reports about Wi-Fi jamming from Los Angeles and Glendale, California, to Minneapolis, Boston and Colorado.
Headlines aren’t the same thing as facts, so CNET experts tested home security systems and Wi-Fi signal blocking and looked at how jammers work. It's mostly good news: Here's why Wi-Fi jammers remain largely ineffective and rare, plus what to do if you're worried.
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Don't get too jammed up
Wi-Fi jammers got their start as knockoff phone jammers that rarely worked. Today's versions aren't a big help, either.
Wi-Fi jammers are out there but they are unlikely to pose a threat to your home or any of your devices. Jamming signals need to be very close and don't work as well as people think. Important reasons to stay calm include the following:
- The above reports are general police messages for their communities, and scant evidence has been presented that Wi-Fi jammers were used, only that homes in affluent neighborhoods were being robbed. In some cases, local reporting makes it clear police are only saying burglars "could be" using jammers or are suspected of having jammers, not that they've caught any in the act. Some burglar arrests like this Connecticut event in 2023 did show proof of jammer devices but it's one of the few times it's been confirmed. Sometimes there's a professional security company ready to say that people can't trust DIY devices but they should never be counted as an unbiased source.
- Smart home encryption helps prevent this type of attack and can notify owners immediately about problems (more on this below) or switch to cellular connections. And you can't "jam" things like locks and force them to open (AI promptware is a bigger concern here).
- As we've mentioned before in our guide on home hacking, burglars likely don't have the time or resources to buy and learn new tech. They're going to smash your windows or drill out your deadbolt -- blocking Wi-Fi isn't really in their plans, even if it makes for great TV.
- It's more likely that suspicious smart home security failures are caused by dying batteries in wireless devices or motion detection that didn't go off because of problems with motion zones or detection sensitivity.
- Brute-force jamming of a Wi-Fi signal doesn't stop local video storage on a camera, rarely acts fast enough to remove clear video of a suspect and doesn't affect other security components like sirens or motion lights.
- According to a 2019 FBI report, burglaries account for only 16% of property crimes, with about 60% involving residential burglary and about half of burglaries involving any kind of forced entry. Also note that burglaries in general decreased by about 50% between 2010 and 2020.
However, Wi-Fi jamming technology does exist, and despite FCC laws banning their sale, burglars can still find and purchase jammers online. So let's dive deeper into this jamming tech and what you can do if you feel the need to take more action.
Wireless Jamming 101
Wi-Fi jamming requires steps few burglars take and hasn't proved very useful for thieves.
Jamming concerns are nothing new, and they're not unique to security systems. Any device that's built to receive a wireless signal at a specific frequency can be overwhelmed by a stronger signal coming in on the same frequency. For comparison, let's say you wanted to "jam" a conversation between two people -- all you'd need to do is yell in the listener's ear.
Jamming a wireless radio requires knowledge of its broadcast frequency (315MHz, 433MHz, 900MHz, etc.) as well as the right equipment to jam that frequency. It also requires criminal intent because jamming is illegal. Buying or selling these devices without the right certifications is illegal, too.
That makes it difficult for burglars to jam home security systems unless they buy black-market tech (that actually works) and study a house long enough to know what devices it uses, then research the signals produced and download the right firmware.
As you can imagine, complex jamming hardly ever happens. Police in the stories above assumed that Wi-Fi jammers were being used because the robberies were in affluent neighborhoods and security cameras didn't produce any alerts. Real evidence of blocking gadgets rarely appears. Even in the Connecticut case we referenced above, burglars only tried using jammers because they acquired detailed information about the home security system from a homeowner's co-worker -- again, an unlikely series of events.
Some systems use software to detect intentional RF interference.
What about jammers that target already well-known Wi-Fi frequencies to disrupt video transmission? In the Houston example cited above, you can see why this isn't practical. If there really was a Wi-Fi jammer in that backpack, it didn't act fast enough to avoid getting a good look at the person holding it. It also didn't open locks or doors -- the suspected burglars only gained access through a second-story window that was left unlocked, then appeared frightened away by motion-detecting lights. Despite the headlines, the security system worked fine.
A final note: We are following the use of more advanced Wi-Fi jammers, models that rapidly switch between frequencies to find the right one for a specific device, usually in warzone situations. These are very unlikely to end up in the hands of burglars, but we're keeping an eye on the technology to see if these high-grade tools become a threat. For now, you have almost nothing to worry about.
Countermeasures
We tested wireless jamming out for ourselves in this odd-looking setup designed to contain the RF interference.
Wireless security providers will often take steps to help combat the threat of jamming attacks. For instance, SimpliSafe, a two-time winner of our Editors' Choice distinction, uses a proprietary algorithm that's capable of separating incidental RF interference from targeted jamming attacks. When the system thinks it's being jammed, it'll notify you via push alert on your phone. From there, it's up to you to sound the alarm manually.
We tested that jamming algorithm in 2015 after security researchers raised concerns that the system was susceptible to such attacks.
After taking appropriate measures to contain the RF interference to our test lab, we tested the attack out and were able to verify that it's possible with the right equipment. However, we also verified that SimpliSafe's antijamming algorithm works. It caught us in the act, sent an alert to a connected smartphone and also listed our RF interference on the system's event log.
SimpliSafe is far from the only security brand that does this, even if it is one of the better-protected models. Most other large brands have approaches to deal with jamming, including switching immediately to a cell signal, sounding an alarm and locking devices down. They're also smart enough to know what's happening -- Google Nest Cameras, for example, will give you specific phone alerts if they think Wi-Fi jamming is happening.
Finally, smart home tech has greatly improved since our test. Encryption from major manufacturers has improved, new problems have been found and fixed and new protocols like Thread and WPA3 encryption on your router help keep devices safe. Just keep your firmware updated for all devices so they have the latest fixes.
Still worried? Avoid Wi-Fi altogether
Reolink offers a variety of PoE cams for those who don't want to use Wi-Fi.
Our lengthy assurances above should satisfy you about the safety of wireless home security devices but we know some homeowners may still harbor concerns. If you live in a particularly affluent neighborhood without a security patrol or with frequent break-in attempts, you may want to take an extra safety step. In that case, you have choices, including:
Choose Power over Ethernet devices: PoE cameras use a cable connection for electrical power and Ethernet for Internet access. There's no Wi-Fi involved and no worries about battery life. Some security-conscious homeowners look for battery backup models that work if their power is cut. Reolink is one of the best PoE camera brands available but other companies also sell PoE equipment.
Use a ZigBee home security system: ZigBee is an alternative smart home protocol on a different frequency than Wi-Fi, so it's much less likely to be the target of jamming efforts. The problem is that very few smart home systems use only ZigBee these days. One of the few remaining is the Sonoff home security product line.
The bottom line
Devices like Flipper Zeros claim they make hacking easy, but it still takes too much work and know-how for home burglars.
The most likely burglary scenario by far is the unsophisticated crime of opportunity, usually involving a broken window or some other kind of brute-force entry. Even attacks from more casual devices like a Flipper Zero don't have much effect against today's regularly updated home security systems.
Home security systems help prevent common property crime scenarios and ward off intruders through a mix of visible cams, smart lighting, yard signs and, of course, the ability to turn on audio and yell, "Hey you!" They can also connect immediately to monitoring centers and professionals. These smart home upgrades are keeping homes safer than they've ever been before.
No tech system is impenetrable, but the risk of anti-security technology isn't a concern for the average homeowner. That's especially true for the best home security systems from brands that reliably update firmware, improve encryption and patch vulnerabilities in their systems.