Wireless networks power everything from smart homes to industrial systems, but they are also vulnerable to interference.
A new study by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP) and Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) reveals a more advanced method of jamming Wi-Fi using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS).
This technology allows attackers to target specific devices while leaving others unaffected, making it harder to detect the attack.
How Wi-Fi jamming works
Wi-Fi jamming is a type of cyberattack where criminals block wireless signals, causing disruptions.
For example, attackers can jam smart home security systems to disable alarms or interfere with a car’s locking system. Traditionally, jamming affects all devices in an area, making it easier to detect.
However, new technology is making these attacks more precise and harder to notice.
Selective Jamming: A Smarter Attack
The researchers discovered that RIS technology enables selective jamming, meaning an attacker could disrupt one device while leaving others working normally.
This could be especially dangerous in industries where machines rely on wireless communication.
If just one key device is disabled without triggering an alarm, it could cause major problems.
RIS technology works like a smart mirror that can reflect and control radio waves with extreme precision.
Philipp Mackensen, lead author of the study, explains: “You can think of RIS like a disco ball, but instead of random reflections, we can control exactly where the signals go.” This means an attacker could use RIS to jam only a specific device, even if it is just 5mm away from another device.
The researchers successfully demonstrated this selective jamming technique in their study, which has been published on the arXiv preprint server and will be presented at a top cybersecurity conference, the Network & Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium, in February in San Diego.
How to Defend Against RIS Attacks
While RIS technology has great potential for improving future 6G wireless networks, this study highlights the risks it poses in the wrong hands. The researchers suggest that defenses against RIS-based attacks should be developed, such as new encryption methods or detection systems that monitor unusual signal behavior.
“This study shows that RIS technology, while promising for communication, can also be misused,” says co-author Paul Staat. “By understanding these risks, we can work on better ways to secure wireless networks.”
As Wi-Fi networks continue to evolve, security experts must stay ahead of these new threats to keep wireless systems safe from sophisticated jamming attacks.
