All articles tagged with #wifi
HP has signed a multi-year global license with Huawei for WiFi standard-essential patents, a cross-licensing arrangement that follows last year's dispute settlement and is presented as narrowly scoped with no broader strategic partnership; the move signals Huawei's tech reach outside the U.S. despite the 2019 blacklist and ties into Huawei's role in the Sisvel WiFi 6 patent pool.
Researchers warn that ordinary, unencrypted WiFi signals exchanged between devices and routers can be used to form radio images of people and identify them with near-100% accuracy—even if they’re not carrying a phone or other connected gadget—raising concerns that everyday networks could become covert surveillance systems. The method relies on beamforming feedback, was tested with 197 participants, and experts say privacy protections must be built into future WiFi systems to prevent widespread monitoring by governments or corporations.
The article explains how smartphones quietly broadcast your router’s BSSID to Wi‑Fi Positioning System databases used by Apple and Google for fast location fixes, exposing your exact location and making you trackable. It advises opting out by adding _nomap to your SSID (or changing the name entirely), updating passwords, and then reconnecting all devices. It also guides how to access router settings (usually via the gateway 192.168.1.1) to modify the SSID and credentials.
A Science Daily report says researchers used unencrypted WiFi beamforming feedback to reconstruct radio-based images of people and their surroundings, identifying individuals with nearly 100% accuracy in tests (197 participants) from multiple angles, even when the subject isn’t carrying a device. The technique relies on RF wave propagation and existing WiFi signals, meaning turning off a personal device may not stop it; once a model is trained, identification takes seconds, raising significant privacy and surveillance concerns.
A Delta Air Lines flight from Las Vegas to Atlanta was disrupted when an unauthorized Wi‑Fi network appeared onboard, prompting crew to disable the aircraft’s internet for about 30 minutes. Delta stated no systems were hacked and the flight continued to Atlanta, with federal investigators involved to gather facts. Experts note that rogue onboard networks are uncommon but urge passengers to connect only to the airline’s official network, underscoring the need for clearer network naming and improved onboard Wi‑Fi security.
Apple's iOS 27 aims to make transitions between Wi‑Fi and cellular networks faster and more seamless, reducing the need to toggle Wi‑Fi and improving overall iPhone connectivity.
The piece explains that a dual-band router can broadcast 2.4GHz (longer range) and 5GHz (faster speeds) and lists which devices benefit from each: connect smartphones, tablets, streaming devices, gaming hardware, and work systems to 5GHz for best performance, while reserving 2.4GHz for smart home gear, guest devices, e-readers, and wearables to avoid congesting the main network. It also notes security risks with smart-home devices and suggests isolating them (via Zigbee/Thread or Z-Wave) for better security.
Frontier Airlines will begin offering high-speed Starlink Wi‑Fi next year, claiming it will be the fastest in the sky and enabling gate‑to‑gate connectivity for pilots, flight attendants, maintenance crews and ground operations. Pricing and specific parameters will be announced later, and the service will also be available on Frontier’s global partners Cebu Pacific, JetSMART, Volaris and Wizz Air.
BBC’s feature explains that Wi‑Fi can be disrupted by quirky, everyday culprits—from microwaves (2.4 GHz) and water in fish tanks causing ‘shadowing’ to dense walls and signal reflections off mirrors or metal surfaces, with weather affecting outdoor infrastructure; practical fixes include central, high router placement, using 5 GHz where possible, and deploying extenders or mesh networks to eliminate dead zones.
Valve released SteamOS 3.8.14 to fix WiFi-speed throttling caused by routers misadvertising their MCS requirements; the update is available to non-Valve machines, with a Steam Deck beta (3.8.22) in the Beta/Preview channels and a public release expected within days. It’s unclear whether Steam Machines will receive the update.
Apple is gearing up to release iOS 26.5.2 to address Wi‑Fi reliability, battery drain, and Low Power Mode lag, while adding bug fixes and security patches. The update is expected in the coming days, with Apple typically releasing on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and is part of a broader roadmap that includes iOS 26.6 in beta and iOS 27 planned for later this year.
Microsoft Teams is rolling out a feature called Workplace Check-in via Wi‑Fi that automatically updates a user’s work location when they connect to the organization’s corporate Wi‑Fi. The general availability rollout began in June 2026 (Roadmap ID 488800), extending the existing manual check-in by passively surfacing location within Teams. It’s available on Desktop and Mac across Worldwide Standard multi-tenant instances, but disabled by default and controlled by tenant admins. Users can opt in or out, ensuring a privacy-forward approach while helping coordinate in-person collaboration in hybrid work environments.
Microsoft Teams will roll out a Workplace Check-in feature in June 2026 that uses the company Wi‑Fi to indicate whether an employee is in the office. Admins enable the feature and employees can opt out; it does not provide precise location data. While aimed at simplifying attendance coordination, it raises ongoing privacy concerns about monitoring in the workplace.
German researchers demonstrated that ordinary WiFi signals can identify people with near-perfect accuracy by analyzing how radio waves reflect off their bodies using beamforming feedback information, even if the person isn’t carrying a device or has their phone off. The finding raises serious privacy concerns, suggesting routers could serve as covert surveillance tools; experts urge safeguards in the upcoming IEEE 802.11bf standard.
A Dartmouth study showed curved, precision-shaped aluminum reflectors can steer Wi‑Fi and boost signal in a specific direction by up to about 50%, but DIY foil behind a router yields smaller gains (roughly 10–20%) and concentrates existing power rather than increasing total output. It can cause overheating and is not a substitute for proper router placement, extenders, or mesh systems; regulatory limits mean this is a temporary, directional tweak rather than a fix-all.