Dynamically enabling a security feature of a wireless communication device based on environmental context

A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

• operating, with an electronic processor included in the wireless communication device, the wireless communication device in a first security mode of a plurality of available security modes, a frequency scanning feature and a frequency hopping feature of the wireless communication device being disabled in the first security mode;
• evaluating, with the electronic processor, one or more environmental context parameters associated with the wireless communication device, wherein the one or more environmental context parameters include a role of a user associated with the wireless communication device;
• determining, with the electronic processor, based on the evaluated one or more environmental context parameters, whether communications of the wireless communication device are susceptible to a potential cyber-security threat;
• in response to determining the communications of the wireless communication device are susceptible to the potential cyber-security threat, transitioning, with the electronic processor, the wireless communication device to a second security mode of the plurality of available security modes to identify whether the potential cyber-security threat is present, the frequency scanning feature being enabled and the frequency hopping feature being disabled in the second security mode;
• performing, with the electronic processor while the wireless communication device operates in the second security mode, a frequency scan;
• and
• in response to detecting the potential cyber-security threat from the frequency scan, transitioning, with the electronic processor, the wireless communication device to a third security mode of the plurality of available security modes, the frequency hopping feature being enabled in the third security mode.

Non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by an electronic processor, perform a set of functions, the set of functions comprising:

• operating a wireless communication device in a first security mode of a plurality of available security modes;
• evaluating, based on sensor data, one or more environmental context parameters associated with the wireless communication device, wherein the one or more environmental context parameters include a role of a user associated with the wireless communication device;
• determining, based on the evaluated one or more environmental context parameters, whether communications of the wireless communication device are susceptible to a potential cyber-security threat;
• in response to determining the communications of the wireless communication device are susceptible to the potential cyber-security threat, transitioning the wireless communication device to a second security mode of the plurality of available security modes, a frequency scanning feature of the wireless communication device being enabled in the second security mode;
• performing a frequency scan while operating the wireless communication device in the second security mode to identify whether the potential cyber-security threat is present;
• and
• automatically and selectively operating the wireless communication device in one of three security modes included in the plurality of available security modes based on the one or more environmental context parameters and a result of the frequency scan, the three security modes including:
• (i) the second security mode,
• (ii) a third security mode, a frequency hopping feature of the wireless communication device being enabled and the frequency scanning feature being disabled in the third security mode, and
• (iv) a fourth security mode, the frequency hopping feature and the frequency scanning feature being enabled in the fourth security mode.