4 ms·

Short of lining your walls with foil, how could you defeat it legally? Jamming isn't legal. We need new legislation to ban this, without a law enforcement ex

Short of lining your walls with foil, how could you defeat it legally? Jamming isn't legal. We need new legislation to ban this, without a law enforcement exemption. I don't have high hopes.

giantg2 4y ago
I would take a wild guess that it wouldn't be jamming, but some sort of network configuration. Maybe something like extra access points with specific geometry, higher power exterior APs than interior APs, or random beam forming or reflections. Jamming could still be an option. Most devices are required to accept any interference from other lawful devices. So in theory, you could find legal ways of jamming. https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-jam-your-neighbors-wi-fi-legally/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-jam-your-neighbors-wi-f...
- BenjiWiebe 4y ago
  The same law that says you must accept interference also says you may not cause interference, or something like that. You could only legally jam by making transmissions that are actually useful and just happen to also interfere. IANAL.
iam-TJ 4y ago
"Jamming" is legal in as much as any device that operates in the ISM[0] bands must accept interference - so in the 2.4GHz example, microwave ovens, baby monitors, TV relays, remote door monitors, wireless alarm systems etc., all operate in the same band and will interfere with WiFi that is close by (since they use a different modulation). [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_radio_band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_radio_band
- kccqzy 4y ago
  And in college I remember a professor or a TA demonstrated jamming by operating a modified microwave oven while running iperf or something similar on a nearby Wi-Fi network.
- robocat 4y ago
  You are correct that ISM band devices must accept interference, however jamming is illegal in the USA due to FCC regulations: https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement Definitely start with the presumption it is illegal anywhere in the world, even though you might be able to hack around regulations to find loopholes. I think the FCC is focused on broadcast interference, safety requirements, and commercial sales of jamming devices.
Gigachad 4y ago
Lining the exterior walls doesn't sound all that hard for a new build. Just lay the RF blocking sheet down before the drywall. People love those RF blocking wallets that have dubious value, a "privacy wall" upgrade from builders would probably sell well.
- kccqzy 4y ago
  They can sell it as improving Wi-Fi in your own home too, even if you trust neighbors not to pull any shenanigans, since your Wi-Fi network won't be subject to interference from neighboring networks.
  - skykooler 4y ago
    Downside is that your cellphones would also stop working indoors.
    - geysersam 4y ago
      Okay so nobody will buy it.
    - Gigachad 4y ago
      That's an inconvenience for guests but you could stick a QR code to join your wifi on the wall. Phone calls should still work over wifi calling I'd think.
    - autoexec 4y ago
      Just put a mini cell tower/booster on the inside of your house connected via wire to the outside. Problem solved, and you now have the ability to cut off cell access on the inside if you want to.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

Short of lining your walls with foil, how could you defeat it legally? Jamming isn't legal. We need new legislation to ban this, without a law enforcement exemption. I don't have high hopes.

giantg2 4y ago

I would take a wild guess that it wouldn't be jamming, but some sort of network configuration. Maybe something like extra access points with specific geometry, higher power exterior APs than interior APs, or random beam forming or reflections. Jamming could still be an option. Most devices are required to accept any interference from other lawful devices. So in theory, you could find legal ways of jamming. https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-jam-your-neighbors-wi-fi-legally/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-jam-your-neighbors-wi-f...

BenjiWiebe 4y ago
The same law that says you must accept interference also says you may not cause interference, or something like that. You could only legally jam by making transmissions that are actually useful and just happen to also interfere. IANAL.

iam-TJ 4y ago

"Jamming" is legal in as much as any device that operates in the ISM[0] bands must accept interference - so in the 2.4GHz example, microwave ovens, baby monitors, TV relays, remote door monitors, wireless alarm systems etc., all operate in the same band and will interfere with WiFi that is close by (since they use a different modulation). [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_radio_band https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_radio_band

kccqzy 4y ago
And in college I remember a professor or a TA demonstrated jamming by operating a modified microwave oven while running iperf or something similar on a nearby Wi-Fi network.
robocat 4y ago
You are correct that ISM band devices must accept interference, however jamming is illegal in the USA due to FCC regulations: https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement https://www.fcc.gov/general/jammer-enforcement Definitely start with the presumption it is illegal anywhere in the world, even though you might be able to hack around regulations to find loopholes. I think the FCC is focused on broadcast interference, safety requirements, and commercial sales of jamming devices.

Gigachad 4y ago

Lining the exterior walls doesn't sound all that hard for a new build. Just lay the RF blocking sheet down before the drywall. People love those RF blocking wallets that have dubious value, a "privacy wall" upgrade from builders would probably sell well.

kccqzy 4y ago
They can sell it as improving Wi-Fi in your own home too, even if you trust neighbors not to pull any shenanigans, since your Wi-Fi network won't be subject to interference from neighboring networks.
- skykooler 4y ago
  Downside is that your cellphones would also stop working indoors.
  - geysersam 4y ago
    Okay so nobody will buy it.
  - Gigachad 4y ago
    That's an inconvenience for guests but you could stick a QR code to join your wifi on the wall. Phone calls should still work over wifi calling I'd think.
  - autoexec 4y ago
    Just put a mini cell tower/booster on the inside of your house connected via wire to the outside. Problem solved, and you now have the ability to cut off cell access on the inside if you want to.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]