Science & technology | Surveillance technology

Wi-Fi signals could prove useful for spies

A router’s emissions can paint a picture of activity in a room

No hiding placeImage: Jiaqi Geng, Dong Huang & Fernand

Like all radio waves, Wi-Fi signals undergo subtle shifts when they encounter objects—human beings included. These can reveal information about the shape and motion of what has been encountered, in a manner akin to the way a bat’s chirps reveal obstacles and prey.

This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “I spy, with my ⇔little Wi-Fi”

From the January 28th 2023 edition

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