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, utilizes a proprietary algorithm that’s capable of separating incidental RF interference from targeted cell phone jammer 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.
Though these kids shouldn’t have cell phones in class in the first place, there had to be a smarter solution, such a confiscation or suspension program for students with cell phones in class. A Faraday cage system might have been effective as well and would not hold the legal issues. Ultimately the school needs to teach these kids to put their toys away when they are supposed to be working.
Jamming a wireless radio requires knowledge of its broadcast frequency as well as the right equipment to jam that frequency. It also requires criminal intent, because jamming is highly illegal. Buying or selling these devices without the right certifications is often illegal, too.
Some have suggested that the school could be operating a cell jammer, but I think that’s pretty unlikely because of how the signal is described to drop off quickly on entering the school- if a jammer was in operation, there should be a more gradual jamming effect, or there would need to be a large number of 4G jammer covering the campus and broadcasting a relatively weak signal.
After taking appropriate measures to contain the RF interference to our test lab, we tested the attack out for ourselves, and were able to verify that it’s possible with the right equipment. However, we also verified that SimpliSafe’s anti-jamming algorithm works. It caught us in the act, sent an alert to my smartphone, and also listed our RF interference on the system’s event log.