Targeted Wireless Jamming
AI-created, human-edited.
In a recent episode of Security Now, hosts Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte discussed a revolutionary new technology that could fundamentally change how wireless communication can be disrupted. The topic centered on research presented at the Network and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium 2025 by a team of German academics, introducing what Gibson described as "uber cool next-generation cyber spy tech."
The paper, titled "Spatial Domain Wireless Jamming with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces," reveals a new method that allows for precision targeting of wireless jamming signals. Traditional jamming floods an area with interference, affecting all devices in range. This new approach, however, can disable specific devices while leaving others completely unaffected—even when they're mere millimeters apart.
What makes this technology particularly remarkable is that it's entirely passive. The system doesn't transmit any signals of its own but instead uses what the researchers call a Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS).
As Gibson explained, an RIS is "an engineered surface to digitally control reflections of radio waves." The system:
- Passively listens to signals from devices in the environment
- Uses these signals to locate specific devices in 2D space
- Selectively reflects ambient radio signals in the environment
- Manipulates the phase of these reflections to create destructive interference at precise locations
The result is targeted jamming that:
- Requires minimal power since it's not generating signals
- Is virtually undetectable by traditional means
- Can disable a specific device while leaving another just 5mm away completely functional
Both hosts expressed astonishment at the technology's capabilities. Gibson speculated that intelligence agencies like the NSA and CIA would be extremely interested in this research, noting it could have significant implications for both defensive and offensive operations.
The researchers demonstrated their attack using commodity Wi-Fi devices and open-source RIS technology, proving its effectiveness in real-world conditions. Unlike traditional reactive jamming techniques that require monitoring and decoding of protocols, this approach works at the physical layer, making it "protocol-level agnostic."
"This is alien technology," Gibson remarked, highlighting the mind-blowing nature of being able to selectively jam specific devices without emitting any detectable signals.
While the paper does propose potential countermeasures, the hosts noted that RIS technology is likely to become more prevalent, with researchers suggesting it could complement future wireless networks like 6G. The technology could be used to improve signal coverage, enhance energy efficiency, and eliminate dead zones—but also clearly presents new security challenges.
On a lighter note, Laporte joked that the technology could be useful in movie theaters to target disruptive phone users, with Gibson reminiscing about his past frustrations with loud cell phone conversations.
This research represents a significant advancement in how wireless signals can be manipulated. As Gibson summarized, "very low power, undetectable, targeted jamming of specific radios is now possible," which has profound implications for wireless security in an increasingly connected world.
