RF signal interference is an interruption to a wireless connection caused by a nearby source of radio energy. This interference disrupts a device’s normal operation and can cause a decrease in performance or may even cause the device to fail. RF interference can come from a variety of sources, including other wireless devices, power lines, electrical equipment, and even weather conditions.
An unexpectedly poor SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) could be due to interference. If calculations have suggested a good SNR, but they do not match reality, it is important to establish why. Spectrum interference is ubiquitous; therefore, spectrum monitoring should establish the cause of the interference.
RF interference is typically detected using specialized RF measurement equipment, such as RF Receivers and spectrum analyzers. These devices allow users to identify unwanted signals, view spectrum occupancy, localize the sources of interference, and establish how severe the interference is.
Depending on the source and type of interference, there are several ways to block or mitigate RF interference, including:
RF interference hunting involves locating and identifying sources of RF interference that negatively affect wireless reception in a given area. The goal of RF interference hunting is to locate the source of the interferer, and then this information can be used to take appropriate measures to eliminate or mitigate it. This process can involve a variety of tools, including spectrum analyzers, directional antennas, signal generators, and interference mapping tools.
An RF interference (RFI) filter is an electronic device designed to block or attenuate unwanted signals or noise in the RF spectrum while permitting the desired signal. These devices use various filter technologies, such as low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-stop filters. As well as filtering unwanted signals, RF interference filters also protect sensitive equipment from damage caused by high levels of RF energy.
RF spoofing is an attack that uses a transmitter to send a target receiver malicious signals, which differ from the true signals. The goal of RF spoofing is to disrupt the normal operation of a communication system. Sophisticated RF spoofing attacks can be particularly challenging to detect and prevent, as malicious signals are difficult to distinguish from normal ones.
RF signal exfiltration is a spying technique whereby RF signals are used to transmit sensitive or secret information out of a secure facility (such as an embassy).
Attackers do not need physical access to the target system and can operate from a distance. They can manipulate transmitted signals in various ways, such as changing signal strength, frequency, or modulation, to trick the receiver into accepting the fake signal as legitimate. This can allow the attacker to inject false data into the system, disrupt communications, or gain unauthorized access to the network.
Technical surveillance countermeasures are vital, particularly for sensitive environments such as embassies.
An RF cyber attack can be either an intrusion or exfiltration attack, or both, using RF signals to carry out the attack.
For RF intrusion attacks, the attackers do not need physical access to the target system and can operate from a distance. They can manipulate transmitted signals in various ways, such as changing signal strength, frequency, or modulation, to trick the receiver into accepting the fake signal as legitimate. This can allow the attacker to inject false data into the system, disrupt communications, or gain unauthorized access to the network.
RF signal exfiltration is a spying technique whereby RF signals are used to transmit sensitive or secret information out of a secure facility (such as an embassy).
Technical surveillance countermeasures are vital, particularly for sensitive environments such as embassies, in order to counter RF cyber attacks.
One useful way to detect an RF jammer is by using a spectrum analyzer, which measures the strength of a signal in a given frequency range. Analyzing the signal strength in different parts of the spectrum can detect any interference blocking the signal, such as an RF jammer.