Cell phone jammers popped up on my radar last week while reading through the email digests of Ken Kirschenbaum's alarm contracts email discussion list. The concern was that criminals could use cell phone jammers to attempt to disrupt the parallel communications paths for alarm signals, since many contemporary security systems use a cellular connection as a back-up communication method to the phone line or an IP connection.

I'm reprinting (with permission from Ken) the email from an anonymous listserve member who had experienced issues with criminals using cell phone jammers, but before we make this entirely one sided, I do want to mention that cell phone jammers do have positive uses when in the hands of trained security professionals. Trained security professionals will sometimes use cell phone jammers to block signals in high-risk government meetings where mobile communication of proceedings is not allowed. Additionally, according to an article from How Stuff Works, France has legalized some businesses (notably, theaters) to jam cellular signals. There have even been applications for preventing remote detonation of IEDs (here's a link to one company providing such technology).

There are legal uses of cell phone jammers, but in the wrong hands, jammers can be detrimental to the alarm industry.

Positive and legal uses of jammers aside, I think this contributor to Ken's list raises some very serious concerns about what jammers mean for alarm system users and monitoring firms. Below is the contributor's text, verbatim and unedited, from the listserve:

From time to time cell phone jammers show up at local party stores - they are "gag" gifts and not intended to disrupt cell communications... they are intended as "gag" items and the FCC rules and regulations do NOT apply.

I found one for $29.95 at a local party store - they are hard to find as they sell out quickly and most of the party stores buy 'lots' of stuff and never know when they will get some more - the package said to be sure and put this in your pocket at the next office party and watch the fun when someone tries to use their phone.

Its called a phone zonker - they never call them jammers. If they called them jammers they would draw legal heat - I have seen several versions of them and they all look pretty much the same and seem to be made by the same company however the packages change all the time.