What is jelly beaning?

Jelly beaning refers to an attack mechanism used in radio communications involving the transmission of a long string of characters or symbols to create confusion or interference. It is a form of jamming technique that aims to disrupt or jam the intended communications.

In jelly beaning, a malicious actor deliberately transmits a rapid sequence of characters, symbols, or seemingly random data. These transmissions can be made manually or through automated systems. As a result, the recipient's communication system becomes overwhelmed with unnecessary information, making it difficult or impossible to decode or process legitimate signals.

Jelly beaning is often employed to target specific individuals, systems, or networks. It can be particularly disruptive in scenarios such as military or governmental communications, emergency services, or business operations that rely on reliable and continuous radio communications.

The term "jelly beaning" likely originates from the resemblance of such rapid transmissions to the vibrant colors and chaotic arrangement of jelly beans.

To counter jelly beaning attacks, communication systems may incorporate countermeasures such as frequency hopping, spread spectrum techniques, or data encryption. These measures help to minimize the impact of jamming and ensure the integrity and security of communications.