Radio-frequency interference, or RFI, is unwanted noise or disruption in the radio spectrum that weakens wireless signals. It can be caused by nearby electronics, overloaded transmitters, faulty equipment, or deliberate jamming. When RFI is strong enough, a receiver may lose packets, misread data, or fail to maintain a stable link.
In cyber security, RFI matters because many critical systems depend on wireless communication for command, telemetry, timing, and navigation. Attackers can use interference to deny service, disrupt coordination, or create confusion that supports spoofing or other follow-on attacks. Defenders look for RFI with spectrum monitoring, signal-quality alerts, and logging that distinguishes interference from software faults. Mitigations include frequency hopping, filtering, directional antennas, encryption, and redundant channels so a system can keep operating when one radio path is degraded.