RF, or radio frequency, is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum used to carry wireless signals. In cyber security, RF matters because many critical systems rely on it for communication, navigation, telemetry, and remote control. Unlike a typical network packet, RF traffic can be affected by distance, terrain, antennas, power levels, congestion, and deliberate interference.
Attackers may abuse RF by jamming signals, spoofing transmissions, or exploiting weak authentication on wireless links. Defenders use spectrum monitoring, signal classification, shielding, and resilient channel design to detect anomalies and keep services available. In aviation and other critical infrastructure, RF security is important because loss or distortion of a signal can create operational confusion even when the underlying IT systems are intact. Protecting RF links means treating the airwaves as part of the attack surface, not just the network edge.