Cyber-Based Detection and Mitigation of Unauthorized Drones in India: A Case Study on Wi-Fi Vulnerabilities and Counter-Drone Mechanisms

Commercial and defense adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has improved operational capability while introducing security and privacy challenges. Unauthorized drone activity across India’s borders and urban airspace poses threats to safety and national security. This paper presents a cybersecurity-driven approach that leverages IEEE 802.11 (Wi- Fi) vulnerabilities for detection and non-destructive neutralization of unauthorized drones. By combining passive packet sniff- ing, multi-feature fingerprinting, and targeted deauthentication- based link disruption, the proposed method aims for low- cost, precise counter-drone measures suitable for local law enforcement and infrastructure operators. Key limitations, legal considerations, and multisensor validation are discussed.