Overview

Teaching: 50 min
Exercises: 0 min

Questions

• Key question (FIXME)

Objectives

• First learning objective. (FIXME)

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Its Impact on Security

1. What is Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)?

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) refers to the disruption of electronic signals caused by external electromagnetic (EM) sources. It can degrade, jam, or corrupt communication signals across radio frequencies (RF), impacting wireless networks, IoT devices, military systems, and industrial equipment.

📡 EMI Sources:

• Natural: Solar flares, lightning, cosmic radiation.
• Man-Made: Wireless transmitters, electronic devices, power lines, jammers.
• Intentional: Cyberattacks using RF jamming, EMPs, or signal spoofing.

🛑 Security Risk: EMI can be used as a cyber-weapon to disrupt critical infrastructure, intercept wireless communications, or conduct side-channel attacks.

2. Impact of EMI on Secure Communications

🔴 2.1 Data Corruption & Signal Disruption

• EMI can interfere with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals, leading to dropped connections, delayed responses, or corrupted data packets.
• Cybersecurity Risk: Attackers can exploit EMI to degrade encryption processes, causing data loss or authentication failures.

✅ Mitigation:
✔ Use error correction codes (ECC) like Forward Error Correction (FEC).
✔ Deploy spread spectrum techniques (FHSS, DSSS) to resist EMI.

🔴 2.2 Wireless Eavesdropping & Side-Channel Attacks

• Attackers can use electromagnetic signal leakage to reconstruct encrypted data or extract keystrokes from keyboards (TEMPEST attacks).
• EMI signals can be intercepted from a distance, exposing confidential information.

✅ Mitigation:
✔ Use Faraday shielding to contain EM emissions.
✔ Deploy secure cryptographic hardware resistant to EMI-based side-channel attacks.

🔴 2.3 Radio Frequency Jamming Attacks

• Jamming devices can emit strong EMI signals to disrupt military, aviation, and emergency communications.
• Example: GPS jamming can render navigation systems useless, leading to drones, ships, or aircraft losing control.

✅ Mitigation:
✔ Use anti-jamming techniques like frequency hopping (FHSS).
✔ Implement directional antennas to minimize interference impact.

🔴 2.4 Compromising IoT & Critical Infrastructure

• EMI can be used to disrupt IoT sensors, medical devices (pacemakers), or industrial SCADA systems.
• Cyber-physical attacks using EMI can disable power grids, disrupt autonomous vehicles, or shut down hospitals.

✅ Mitigation:
✔ Shield critical infrastructure with electromagnetic shielding (EMC filters, Faraday cages).
✔ Use hardened electronics resistant to EMI and EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) attacks.

3. Electromagnetic Shielding & Defense Strategies

🔹 Electromagnetic Shielding (Faraday Cages)

• Enclose sensitive equipment in Faraday cages to block external EMI.
• Used in military bunkers, secure government facilities, and data centers.

🔹 Hardened Communication Systems

• Deploy EMI-resistant military-grade radios for secure battlefield communications.
• Use low-emission cryptographic hardware (e.g., TEMPEST-certified devices).

🔹 Spread Spectrum Communication

• Use Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) or Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) to make signals resistant to EMI attacks.

🔹 Active EMI Monitoring & Filtering

• Deploy EMI detection systems to identify potential interference sources.
• Use RF filters and shielding materials in critical environments.

4. Conclusion

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) poses a serious security threat to wireless communications, IoT devices, and critical infrastructure. Cyber attackers can exploit EMI for jamming, eavesdropping, and disrupting secure networks.

✅ Key Takeaways:

• EMI can cause signal disruption, data corruption, and security breaches.
• Attackers use RF jamming, TEMPEST eavesdropping, and EMP attacks to exploit vulnerabilities.
• Faraday shielding, frequency hopping, and hardened electronics are essential defenses.

📡 Next Steps: Would you like a deep dive into military-grade anti-EMI techniques, SDR-based EMI monitoring, or real-world EMI cyber incidents? 🚀

Key Points

• First key point. Brief Answer to questions. (FIXME)