All articles tagged with #wifi
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.
Gizmodo reviews the $299 Sonos Play, a portable speaker that also serves as a Wi‑Fi hub for a Sonos ecosystem and can pair with other Plays for stereo or multi‑room playback. It delivers surprisingly big sound for its size, competes with Bose’s SoundLink Plus, supports on‑the‑fly Bluetooth linking, Trueplay tuning, and voice assistants, and boasts IP67 durability with a replaceable battery that lasts about a day. Still, it’s pricey, lacks Dolby Atmos, and rearranging from a stereo pair back to a single speaker isn’t entirely seamless. Overall, it’s a strong comeback for Sonos, blending home and on‑the‑go listening.
An open-source edge system named RuView uses WiFi Channel State Information to reconstruct full-body human poses through walls in real time, enabling passive surveillance with privacy and security implications, and it runs on inexpensive ESP32-class devices with no cloud dependency.
Researchers call AirSnitch a cross‑layer Wi‑Fi attack that undermines client isolation at Layers 1–2, enabling bidirectional man‑in‑the‑middle traffic across guest networks, home, and enterprise setups. The technique can intercept and alter traffic, steal cookies and credentials, and DNS data, potentially even when HTTPS is used. It affects a wide range of devices from major vendors and may require hardware changes; some updates exist, but the recommended defenses include VPNs and moving toward zero‑trust networking. In practice, users should be cautious on unknown public APs and consider tethering via mobile data or trusted VPNs until fixes are widely deployed.
Switch your Smart TV from WiFi to a wired Ethernet connection for a faster, more stable streaming experience; connect a Cat5e/Cat8 cable from your router to the TV’s LAN port, then enable Wired in the TV’s settings. Netflix lists about 15 Mbps for 4K and 25 Mbps for smoother loading; Ethernet can also reduce ping for gaming and apps. While researchers have demonstrated ultra-fast speeds in labs, practical home use should stick with wired Ethernet for now.
KIT researchers show that ordinary WiFi traffic can be analyzed to reconstruct camera‑like images and identify people without anyone carrying a device, achieving near‑perfect accuracy in their study and raising privacy concerns that call for stronger protections in the IEEE 802.11bf standard.
Researchers at UC Santa Cruz developed Pulse-Fi, a system that uses WiFi signals to monitor heart rate without sensors or wires, by analyzing variations in WiFi channel information caused by heartbeats, potentially enabling wireless health monitoring and other RF-based detections.
Chipmakers are celebrating the advent of AI-powered PCs, calling it the most exciting development since the birth of WiFi.
Tesla's latest update brings the ability to hide unused music services and explicit content, as well as changes to WiFi and Bluetooth menus. Additionally, Elon Musk announced plans to produce the Tesla Semi in Europe at Giga Berlin, aligning with the company's expansion goals. The update also includes changes to turn signal icons and the introduction of a new WiFi menu, reflecting Tesla's ongoing efforts to refine its software and enhance user experience.
Security researchers have demonstrated how hackers can use a simple $169 hacking tool to create a fake "Tesla Guest" WiFi network at Tesla charging stations, steal owners' login credentials, set up a new phone key, and potentially steal their Tesla vehicles. Despite reporting the issue to Tesla, the company has not acknowledged it as a problem. The researchers suggest that requiring physical key card authentication and notifying owners when a new phone key is created could mitigate this vulnerability.
Google has removed the Google Wifi and Nest Wifi routers from its store, possibly in anticipation of a new model. Last year, Google introduced the Nest Wifi Pro with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and Matter support, and it's speculated that a new Nest Wifi model codenamed "Brezza" may be on the horizon. While the older hardware is still available at other retailers, stock is expected to deplete in the coming weeks.
Valve has released a new Preview update for the Steam Deck's operating system, SteamOS 3.5.13, which includes improvements to WiFi connectivity and a new feature allowing users to adjust the brightness of the Status LED. The update also fixes an issue with HDR being desaturated on some external DisplayPort displays. Users experiencing WiFi issues may find relief with this update, which builds upon the previous 3.5.12 Preview's WiFi crash-fix. To access the Preview, users can navigate to the System Update Channel settings on their Steam Deck and select Preview.
Mounting your WiFi router on the ceiling can significantly improve performance by placing it in the center of the room, away from walls and obstructions. This not only enhances reception but also declutters living spaces. To achieve this, you'll need a ceiling mount compatible with your router, a drill, cord cover, and possibly a longer power cord. The process involves deciding on the router's position, securely attaching the mount with screws, and neatly arranging the cords with cord cover. This simple and cost-effective solution can lead to better WiFi connectivity and a tidier home.
Linux 6.6.6 has been released to address WiFi regressions caused by a patch in the previous version. The patch had resulted in deadlocks and issues with user-space network managers. Linux 6.6.6 reverts the problematic patch and is now available as the "666" kernel.