First of all, it’s nothing new under the sun! This capability of seeing through a wall was made a long time ago. The concerns related to this are very justified and serious. With the help of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, it’s getting super easy to create such a “vision through a wall” and make it super accurate.
Using Wi-Fi or cell phone signals it’s possible to recognize human shapes through walls. Like always the technology itself is neutral – let’s leave aside the “conspiracy theories” – but its application may rise the concerns. This technology is well established and documented since year 2015.
Why I write about it now? I’m in the machine learning field for a while and I can see how powerful tools – most of them are open-source – we have for image recognition. They can do the image recognition in real-time super-fast and with high-accuracy.
Only facts
Below I’m presenting facts about institutions involved in the process of making wi-fi signals capable of seeing through the walls. Scientific preprints for those technologies and the existing technologies publicly available.
Universities involved
- Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a method for detecting the three dimensional shape and movements of human bodies in a room, using only WiFi routers. Source: www.vice.com
- Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab have developed software that uses variations in Wi-Fi signals to recognize human silhouettes through walls. Source: www.media.mit.edu
If the universities with limited budget and resources are able to create such a technology, image what governments and military project can do! – Doom & Gloom!
Scientific papers
- YOLO
- DensePose
arXiv.org is a free online repository of electronic preprints in physics, mathematics, computer science, and related disciplines, allowing researchers to share and access their work before peer review.
Publicly available technologies
- YOLO: You only look once is a state-of-the-art, real-time object detection system.
- DensePose: Dense Human Pose Estimation In The Wild.
While both DensePose and YOLO are computer vision techniques, they serve different purposes. DensePose focuses on estimating the 3D pose of a person, whereas YOLO is designed for object detection. YOLO can be used as a pre-processing step to detect the person in an image, and then DensePose can be applied to estimate their pose.
The IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The motto of the IEEE is “Advancing Technology for Humanity”, sounds great, isn’t it? Heaven’t we heard about companies, organizations working to make our world better?! – Doom & Gloom!
IEEE is a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence in the electrical, electronics, computer, and related fields. It is one of the world’s largest technical professional organizations, with over 400,000 members in more than 160 countries.
Why Wi-Fi works the way it works
It’s important to understand the technology and see how it can be used and misused.
What is Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a family of wireless network protocols based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. It allows nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio waves, commonly used for local area networking and Internet access.
How does Wi-Fi work
Wi-Fi uses radio waves to transmit data between devices, with different versions of Wi-Fi using various techniques such as direct-sequence spread spectrum and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. Devices communicate by sending each other data packets, and stations use carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) to share channels.
Wi-Fi versions and generations
There are several versions of Wi-Fi, including Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), each with different radio wavebands, speeds, and features. The latest version, Wi-Fi 7, has been introduced with faster speeds and improved performance.
Uses of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is used to provide local network and Internet access to devices, and is commonly found in public spaces, homes, and businesses. It’s also used in applications such as motion detection, gesture recognition, and geolocation.
Wi-Fi Tracking
Let’s dive deep into capabilities of tracking human using Wi-Fi.
Introduction
Wi-Fi technology has become ubiquitous in modern life, with Wi-Fi routers and access points providing internet connectivity to billions of people worldwide. However, the same technology that enables wireless communication can also be used for tracking people movement. Wi-Fi tracking technology uses the radio waves emitted by Wi-Fi routers and access points to determine the location of devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and wearables.
Principles of Wi-Fi Tracking
Wi-Fi tracking technology is based on the principle of received signal strength (RSS) and time difference of arrival (TDOA). RSS measures the strength of the signal received by a device, while TDOA measures the time difference between the signal received by multiple devices. By combining these two metrics, Wi-Fi tracking systems can determine the location of a device with high accuracy.
Types of Wi-Fi Tracking Systems
There are two types of Wi-Fi tracking systems: Wi-Fi fingerprinting and Wi-Fi ranging.
Wi-Fi Ranging: This method involves using multiple Wi-Fi access points to determine the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of the signal received by a device. By combining TDOA with RSS, Wi-Fi ranging systems can determine the location of a device with high accuracy.
Wi-Fi Fingerprinting: This method involves creating a database of Wi-Fi signal strengths at known locations. When a device is moved to a new location, its signal strength is compared to the database to determine its location.
Applications of Wi-Fi Tracking
Wi-Fi tracking technology has a wide range of applications, including:
Health Monitoring: Wi-Fi tracking systems can be used to monitor the movement of patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions that require continuous monitoring.
Navigation: Wi-Fi tracking systems can be used to navigate indoor and outdoor environments, such as shopping malls, airports, and public transportation systems.
Surveillance: Wi-Fi tracking systems can be used to monitor people movement in crowded areas, such as stadiums, concert venues, and shopping centers.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi radio waves have emerged as a promising technology for tracking people movement, offering a cost-effective and non-intrusive solution for indoor and outdoor navigation. With its high accuracy and wide range of applications, Wi-Fi tracking technology is poised to revolutionize the way we navigate and interact with our environment.
Wi-Fi Hacking
Wi-Fi hacking is a growing concern, and it’s easier than ever due to weak passwords, unsecured networks, outdated firmware, malware, and ransomware. To prevent Wi-Fi hacking, it’s essential to use strong passwords, keep firmware up to date, and use a reputable antivirus software. Additionally, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help encrypt internet traffic and protect sensitive information. By taking these precautions, you can help keep your Wi-Fi network secure and prevent hackers from gaining access to your sensitive information.
Common Techniques Used to Hack Wi-Fi
| 1. Brute Force Attack A brute force attack involves trying all possible combinations of a password to gain access to a Wi-Fi network. This technique can be used to crack weak passwords, but it can also be time-consuming and ineffective against strong passwords. 2. Dictionary Attack A dictionary attack involves using a list of common words and phrases to try and guess a password. This technique can be effective against weak passwords, but it can also be slow and ineffective against strong passwords. 3. Phishing Phishing involves tricking users into revealing their Wi-Fi password or other sensitive information. This can be done through email, social media, or other online platforms. 4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack A MitM attack involves intercepting communication between a user and a Wi-Fi network. This can be done by setting up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot or by exploiting vulnerabilities in a router. | 5. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Attack WPS is a feature that allows users to easily connect to a Wi-Fi network using a PIN code. However, WPS can also be exploited by hackers to gain access to a Wi-Fi network. 6. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) Spoofing ARP spoofing involves sending fake ARP requests to a network, which can cause a device to connect to a fake Wi-Fi hotspot instead of the real one. 7. DNS (Domain Name System) Spoofing DNS spoofing involves manipulating DNS records to redirect users to a fake Wi-Fi hotspot or to steal sensitive information. 8. War Driving War driving involves using a laptop or other device to scan for open Wi-Fi networks while driving around a neighborhood or area. 9. War Walking War walking involves using a laptop or other device to scan for open Wi-Fi networks while walking around a neighborhood or area. | 10. Wi-Fi Sniffing Wi-Fi sniffing involves using a device to capture and analyze Wi-Fi packets to gain sensitive information, such as login credentials or credit card numbers. 11. Evil Twin Attack An evil twin attack involves setting up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot that mimics a legitimate network. This can be done by using the same SSID and channel as the legitimate network. 12. Rogue Access Point A rogue access point involves setting up a fake Wi-Fi hotspot that is not authorized by the network administrator. 13. Wi-Fi Jamming Wi-Fi jamming involves using a device to block or disrupt Wi-Fi signals, making it difficult for users to access a network. 14. Wi-Fi Spoofing Wi-Fi spoofing involves manipulating Wi-Fi packets to make it appear as though a device is connected to a different network. |
Conclusion
Wi-Fi hacking involves using various techniques to gain unauthorized access to a Wi-Fi network. These techniques can be used to steal sensitive information, disrupt network operations, or gain unauthorized access to a network. By understanding these techniques, users can take steps to protect their Wi-Fi networks and prevent hacking attempts.
Hold my beer, they are able track people movement and hack Wi-Fi?!
Now days, each household has at least one Wi-Fi router, and hacking a Wi-Fi network is “super easy”, mainly because of people laziness (default or weak passwords) there are a publicly available tools and technologies to track human movement through a wall. Can we feel safe and not monitored at all?! – Doom & Gloom!
Imagine that – conspiracy theory
Imagine a near future where we have “installed” in our bodies implants, nanomachines, chips and all this “devices” needs transfer medical data throughout human body without surgical intervention. The easiest way is using wireless communication. Does it sound like a science fiction, not at all, the technology and technological standards are already there.
Some people will need that kind of “devices” because of their health conditions. Some of the people will install that kind of devices to enhance their human capabilities. Some of them will treat it like jeweler that they wear “on the body”, but in this case it will be “in the body”.
The IEEE publish a scientific document Weight Shift Keying (WSK) With Practical Mechanical Receivers for Molecular Communications in Internet of Everything – free access can be found here on https://www.semanticscholar.org/
Body Area Network – IEEE 802.15
The same Institute IEEE has another IEEE 802.15 working group (Wi-Fi – IEEE 802.11) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_area_network or https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6261704
Source: Wikipedia
A body area network (BAN), also referred to as a wireless body area network (WBAN), a body sensor network (BSN) or a medical body area network (MBAN), is a wireless network of wearable computing devices. BAN devices may be embedded inside the body as implants or pills, may be surface-mounted on the body in a fixed position, or may be accompanied devices which humans can carry in different positions, such as in clothes pockets, by hand, or in various bags.
Nanonetwork – IEEE P1906.1
The same Institute IEEE has another IEEE P1906.1 working group (BAN – IEEE 802.15; Wi-Fi – IEEE 802.11) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanonetwork or https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8247001
Source: Wikipedia
A nanonetwork or nanoscale network is a set of interconnected nanomachines (devices a few hundred nanometers or a few micrometers at most in size) which are able to perform only very simple tasks such as computing, data storing, sensing and actuation.
Communication approaches […]
Electromagnetic […]
Molecular […]
Tell me, do you feel safe having that kind of “devises” inside your body when you know that wireless communication can be hacked? – Doom & Gloom!
Found on the internet
Paranoia will be our only chance of survival. Ignorance is bliss yet all of us need to pay attention. The road to hell will be paved with good intentions.
Inspired by
Center for Humane Technology Co-Founders Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin discuss The AI Dilemma – full video on YouTube
NOTE: To be clear, the technology itself isn’t bad, I’m not against it, but the way we use it matters.
I’m just trying to raise awareness, that sort of thing!
Stay tuned, the “Doom & Gloom” series will continue!
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