Wi-Fi signals leaking through walls allow spy to ‘see a detailed image of what’s inside,’ scientists warn
IMAGES of objects can be measured through the Wi-Fi signals in your home using a new technique, according to new research.
Wi-Fi signals can do this because they get interrupted by surrounding objects and the reflections can be recorded.
The technique was analyzed by University of California Santa Barbara electrical and computer engineering professor Yasamin Mostofi and her team of researchers, per .
They dubbed the technique Wiffract.
Wiffraft can decode an image of motionless objects from the other side of walls.
Overall, it was determined that Wiffract can pick up on still objects, 3D texts, and even body shapes.
The Wi-Fi reflections give off a unique shape when they hit a sharp curved edge which then diffracts into another specific shape of outgoing rays known as a Keller cone, the research explained.
“We only rely on measuring the received signal and do not need any specialized form of transmission,” Yasamin Mostofi explained to New Scientist.
“As such, as long as the signal makes it to the receiver, it can, in principle, be used.”
Although the technique is a fascinating discovery, there have been some privacy concerns over it.
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The privacy concern comes as anyone who has access to the Wi-Fi signals and knows how to implement Wiffract could possibly create a detailed map of a home.
Another experiment on the technique used three transmitters and three receivers in a room and was able to detect the shape of people’s bodies within the space, per New Scientist.
“As these systems get developed further in the future, privacy discussions should naturally accompany them,” Mostofi explained.
Mostofi noted that on the positive side, Wiffract could lead to better smart home or security devices and applications.