Wed Nov 26 04:45:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the research on WiFi beamforming and its privacy implications:

News Article:

WiFi Signals Can Identify Individuals with Near-Perfect Accuracy, Study Finds

Karlsruhe, Germany – November 26, 2025 – Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have uncovered a concerning privacy vulnerability in modern WiFi technology. Their study reveals that beamforming feedback information (BFI), routinely broadcast by devices to optimize WiFi signals, can be used to identify individuals with remarkable accuracy, even without specialized hardware or network access.

The research, published today, demonstrates that a relatively simple neural network, when trained on BFI data, can recognize individuals based on their gait with up to 99.5% accuracy during normal walking. This is achieved by analyzing how a person’s body disturbs the WiFi field as they move. Even factors like carrying a backpack, walking briskly, or passing through a turnstile only slightly reduced the accuracy.

Unlike previous research focused on channel state information (CSI), which requires specialized hardware, this study highlights the risk associated with readily available BFI data. “Our findings change how we should think about the privacy consequences of everyday WiFi use,” explains [Researcher’s Name, if available]. “Inferring one’s identity doesn’t necessarily require hacking firmware or networks, but only a device within listening range.”

The implications are significant. The ability to track and identify individuals based on WiFi signals creates an “inverse panopticon,” where people are unknowingly monitored. This silent profiling could lead to activity logs and movement patterns being tied to specific individuals over time.

The researchers also note that current mitigation strategies are insufficient, primarily targeting CSI data instead of BFI. They call for increased awareness and the development of robust privacy protections to address this emerging threat.

“People who might avoid visible cameras might still ignore access points mounted in ceilings or corners,” added the researchers.

The study underscores the need for a reevaluation of WiFi security protocols and a greater understanding of the potential privacy risks associated with ubiquitous wireless technology.

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