Why are jamming attacks generally rare?
Select one:
a.The transmitter is not very powerful and must be close to the target
b.They can’t identify WLAN RF signals from other device signals
c.They require expensive, sophisticated equipment
d.They can’t get around new IEEE amendments that fully protect WLANs
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
a. The transmitter is not very powerful and must be close to the target
Explanation:
Jamming attacks involve intentionally disrupting or interfering with the radio signals used for communication, such as those in WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks). These attacks generally aim to flood the frequency spectrum with noise, rendering the target network unusable by other devices. However, jamming attacks are rare for several reasons.
- Limited Range of the Jamming Device (Answer a): The primary limitation of a jamming attack is the range of the device used to perform the jamming. For a jamming attack to be effective, the attacker must be within a close proximity to the target network’s communication range. Wireless signals typically operate within certain power limits, which means the jamming device also needs to have a comparable range to effectively interfere with the target signals. Because wireless communication devices in a WLAN usually have limited transmission power, jamming attacks require the attacker to be physically close to the target network. This proximity constraint reduces the likelihood of an attacker being able to perform a successful jamming attack.
- Detection of Jamming (Not Answer b): Jamming can be detected because it causes noticeable degradation or loss of communication, which network administrators or intrusion detection systems can pick up. While it might be challenging to pinpoint the exact source of the interference immediately, network devices often include mechanisms for identifying abnormal behavior or signal degradation, which may lead to the detection of the jamming attack.
- Cost of Equipment (Not Answer c): Jamming does not necessarily require expensive, sophisticated equipment. In fact, low-cost jamming devices can be easily acquired or even created. However, the requirement for close proximity to the target network remains the primary reason jamming attacks are not commonly observed.
- Countermeasures in New IEEE Amendments (Not Answer d): While IEEE amendments to WLAN standards (like IEEE 802.11w) have made networks more resilient to certain types of attacks, such as data eavesdropping and spoofing, they do not completely protect against jamming attacks. Jamming can still occur, especially with basic techniques such as frequency hopping or simple signal interference, which bypass some of these amendments.
Overall, jamming attacks are rare primarily due to the need for physical proximity and the limited range of the jamming device.