"Waterloo Researchers Discover Security Loophole Allowing Attackers to Use Wi-Fi to See Through Walls"
A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo has created a drone-powered device that can see through walls using Wi-Fi networks. The Wi-Peep device can fly close to a building and then use the Wi-Fi network to identify and locate all Wi-Fi-enabled devices within seconds. The device takes advantage of what researchers call polite Wi-Fi. Even if a network is password protected, smart devices will respond to contact attempts from any device within range automatically. The Wi-Peep device sends several messages to a device while flying, then measures the response time on each, allowing it to pinpoint the device's location. According to Dr. Ali Abedi, an adjunct professor of computer science at Waterloo, the Wi-Peep devices are like visible spectrum lights, and the walls are like glass. Using similar technology, one could track security guards' movements inside a bank by tracking the location of their phones or smartwatches. A thief could also identify the location and type of smart devices in a home, such as security cameras, laptops, and smart TVs, to find a suitable candidate for a break-in. Furthermore, because the device is operated by a drone, it can be used quickly and remotely without the user being detected. Although scientists have previously investigated Wi-Fi security vulnerabilities using bulky, expensive devices, the Wi-Peep stands out due to its accessibility and ease of transportation. Abedi's team assembled it with a store-bought drone and $20 in readily available hardware. This article continues to discuss the University of Waterloo team's Drone-powered device exposing vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi security.