WiFi signals can now identify you with near-perfect accuracy
Ordinary WiFi can now identify you with near-perfect accuracy
Researchers at KIT have developed a technique that uses ordinary WiFi signals to identify people and map surroundings without cameras or connected devices. By analyzing beamforming feedback information (BFI) sent by devices to routers, the system creates images of people from multiple viewpoints. In tests with 197 participants, it achieved almost 100% identification accuracy. The method works even if you don't carry a WiFi device, as long as others' devices are active. The team warns of privacy risks and calls for safeguards in future WiFi standards.
This technology turns every router into a potential means for surveillance.
- upboundspiral
Unless we get legislation passed that bans this use in public and private spaces prepare for this to be combined with Flock et al to track your movements inside your house (already is being tested by some internet providers), track the moment you exit your house, track you along your route, track you inside all the business you visit.
Unless we do something, this will be used to covertly break the fourth amendment.
- thataccount
I came from the era before WiFi. One doesn't HAVE to have WiFi. Everybody keeps thinking they do. Same thing with cell phones. The world existed before all that, and it can exist just fine again without it.
- throw0101a
Worth noting the existence of IEEE 802.11bf:
- ortusdux
I learned about RECCO tags recently, which are RFID tags designed for finding people in avalanches. I wonder if the return signal contains any information or is fingerprintable?
- OrderlyTiamat
> almost 100% accuracy
I think it's annoying that this gets repeated without revealing the actual stats: this is for the BFI test, it's 99.5% ± 0.38, where 40 samples per person were split 80-20 in training and testset.