Generation dependence of communication device vulnerability to intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI)

Smartphones and tablet computers got impressively popular thanks to their intuitive multi-touch and gestures control and fast-to-catch graphical information presentation. These features make such devices attractive for usage as man-machine interface of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in critical infrastructures (CI). As a disadvantage, they are becoming potential targets of IEMI compromising their functionality to support illegal activities ranging from criminal to terroristic attacks. Tests of GSM mobile phones in the past already have shown a high vulnerability against High Power Electromagnetics (HPEM). Present-day technology offers additional frequency bands for wireless communication, a GPS receiver, a large set of integrated sensors and sophisticated touch-sensitive displays with increasing resolution. Radio frequency (RF) immunity tests with smart phones and tablet computers representing the state of the art in mobile computing technology of 2011-2014 give a picture of generation dependent vulnerability as well as general RF susceptibility related to design concepts and coupling paths. The tests show that IEMI can disturb smart phones and tablets in a broad frequency range. New functionality also opens new coupling paths for IEMI leading to higher vulnerability of the devices.