9 burglaries in Minnesota suspected of disabling cameras by jamming Wi-Fi
- As technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, smart security systems become vulnerable
A survey of news articles regarding burglaries that incorporated the use of Wi-Fi jammers shows a wealth of prior evidence supporting this behavior. In January 2020, a post on the Ring community noted that one of the company’s wireless doorbells missed detecting a porch thief due to a Wi-Fi deauthentication attack. Moreover, from 2021 through 2023, there was a noticeable rise in reports of burglars utilizing Wi-Fi jamming techniques, indicating a growing trend.
We mentioned Ring as one of the companies promoting video doorbells to solve multiple home security problems, but other wireless smart home security products from Blink (Amazon) and Nest (Google) are also susceptible to wireless signal interference. Worryingly, by 2024, Wi-Fi jamming will be almost a piece of cake for would-be thieves. Jammers can be purchased online very easily and cheaply, with prices ranging from $40 to $1,000. jammer device are not legal in the United States, but are readily available online.
Individuals pondering the effectiveness of a wireless component home security system may wish to consider the following advice. First, establish a physical connection that allows for wired integration and local storage of surveillance footage. Additionally, take advantage of smart home technology to give the impression that someone is present in your home. It is also worthwhile to determine if your device can send alerts when the signal or connection is compromised, and to explore these settings for enhanced security.
A serial burglar operating in Edina, Minnesota, is accused of using a Wi-Fi jammer to interfere with security cameras prior to stealing valuables from victims and fleeing the scene. While Minnesota is not typically seen as a technological epicenter, it is not surprising that there have been reports of burglaries involving Wi-Fi jammers in the United States for several years. This situation serves as a reminder that criminals are increasingly adopting technological tools, prompting homeowners to evaluate their security measures.
Edina law enforcement officials are considering the theory that nine residential burglaries occurring in the past six months involved the use of Wi-Fi jammers, effectively preventing investigators from obtaining any video evidence of the offenses.
The thieves’ modus operandi is believed to be:
- Homes in affluent areas
- The thieves carefully monitor the homes
- The thieves avoid confrontation, so appear to wait until the homes are empty
- The thieves deploy Wi-Fi jammers when the homes are empty
The role of jammers is to create interference for wireless devices, not to completely eliminate signals. In most cases, they cannot transmit authentic traffic due to the excessive load on the wireless network.
