Frequency jammers are undermining security systems

DALLAS — U.S. security markets are facing a growing threat from frequency jammers – devices whose ease of use has raised concerns about increased criminal activity – and industry experts are taking notice. 

In its recent webinar, “Frequency Jammers and the Hidden Risk to Security,” Parks Associates brought together experts to examine the threat and impact of these devices. 

Hervé Muller, vice president of North America for Telecom Design, said the issue is one his company has already been addressing in Europe and is now targeting in the U.S. market. According to Muller, the problem is often misunderstood, as media coverage tends to focus on Wi-Fi jamming, when in reality these devices can disrupt a much broader range of frequencies. 

“So, if I use a frequency jammer, it will blanket radio noise,” he said. “It will disable the cellular connectivity between your panel and the central monitoring station. It will disable your Wi-Fi, and it will also disrupt all of the frequencies used between door and window sensors, motion detectors and your security panel – whether it’s DECT ULE, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, etc. So, it’s much more than just Wi-Fi.” 

For Anthony Iannone, vice president of innovation at Affiliated Monitoring, the issue has evolved from something seen in movies into a credible, present-day threat that can directly affect monitoring center operations. 

“All it takes is a simple web search to purchase one of these devices with a credit card and have it delivered in a couple of days,” he said. “Unfortunately, that means alarm systems – especially in the residential space – are increasingly vulnerable. From the monitoring center perspective, we can only respond to the signals we actually receive.” 

While anti-jamming technologies like those developed by Telecom design may offer a solution in commercial applications, Iannone said the challenge remains particularly persistent in the residential market. 

“People don’t really want contractors coming into their homes and drilling holes and things like that,” he said. “So, this is an issue we will have to figure out in the residential space.” 

The full webinar is available online at www.parksassociates.com.