RF interference is unwanted radio-frequency energy that disrupts wireless communication. It can come from accidental sources such as nearby electronics, overloaded transmitters, or poor shielding, and it can also be created deliberately as radio jamming. When interference is strong enough, devices may lose connectivity, see higher error rates, or fail to associate with an access point or base station at all.
In cyber security, RF interference matters because many systems depend on wireless links: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, cellular, radios, and industrial sensors. Attackers may use interference to block monitoring, prevent communication, or create confusion during another operation. Defenders look for unusual noise levels, sudden packet loss, and unexplained signal degradation, then respond with spectrum monitoring, channel changes, antenna hardening, and logging that helps distinguish fault from hostile action. In confined environments such as aircraft, warehouses, or control rooms, even brief interference can become an operational and security incident.