Securing IoT LoRaWAN Networks Against Duty Cycle Compliant Jamming Attacks

In Internet of Things (IoT) networks, where the demand for efficient and low-power communication is crucial, long-range (LoRa) technology offers significant advantages due to its energy efficiency and extended-range capabilities. However, LoRa networks, operating on unlicensed frequency bands, are particularly vulnerable to jamming attacks. In the context of massive IoT (M-IoT) deployments, that are characterized by a huge number of interconnected devices, ensuring robust security is therefore essential to maintain reliable and uninterrupted communication. This study examines selective jamming attacks targeting LoRaWAN (LoRa for Wide Area Networks), demonstrating how these attacks can degrade communication quality between legacy devices and the network server. It highlights the lack of inherent countermeasures within the current LoRaWAN standard to address such threats. To fill this critical security gap, we propose and validate a new countermeasure, demonstrating its effectiveness in mitigating the impact of jamming attacks. By strengthening the security of LoRa within M-IoT networks, we ensure the reliability and resilience required to support the vast number of devices in future IoT deployments.