Assessing the Feasibility of Exploiting LoRa Networks by Criminal Organizations

The LoRa protocol is recognized to be a low-cost solution to efficiently deploy long-range ad-hoc communication systems. In addition, due to the nature of the protocol, node localization is extremely difficult. By considering such aspects, in this paper we examine whether such protocol can be used for clandestine communications operated by organized criminal groups. Our goal is to analyze whether, in the next future, such criminal networks could adopt emerging technologies to empower their activities, with the aim of identifying potential relevant research aspects to address to combat such progress in advance.