Ordinary WiFi can now identify people with near perfect accuracy
Key takeaways
- Researchers in Germany are warning that ordinary Wi Fi networks could become a powerful new form of invisible surveillance.
- "This works similar to a normal camera, the difference being that in our case, radio waves instead of light waves are used for the recognition," explains the cybersecurity expert.
- Turning off your smartphone is not enough to avoid detection.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Researchers in Germany are warning that ordinary Wi Fi networks could become a powerful new form of invisible surveillance. Using standard wireless signals and artificial intelligence, they demonstrated a system capable of identifying people with striking accuracy, even if those individuals are not carrying an active device.
"By observing the propagation of radio waves, we can create an image of the surroundings and of persons who are present," says Professor Thorsten Strufe from KASTEL -- KIT's Institute of Information Security and Dependability. "This works similar to a normal camera, the difference being that in our case, radio waves instead of light waves are used for the recognition," explains the cybersecurity expert. "Thus, it does not matter whether you carry a WiFi device on you or not."
Turning off your smartphone is not enough to avoid detection. According to the researchers, nearby wireless devices connected to the network still generate enough signal activity for the system to work.