Signal-blocking wallpaper stops Wi-Fi stealing

[Hum]

New York (CNN) - Imagine wallpaper that does work for you and for your electronics. Wallpaper that doesn?t only protect your walls, but also protects your health, equipment and data.

Researchers at France?s Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble have worked with the Centre Technique du Papier to develop Wi-Fi-blocking wallpaper. The product, also known as metapaper, claims to selectively filter, reduce or reflect electromagnetic waves.

Metapaper not only protects against intruders stealing Wi-Fi from buildings, but also ensures that signals inside a building are more secure and stronger, the group says. Benefits include data security for companies or people that need dependable Wi-Fi. The wallpaper can also be used to create quieter spaces for places like hospitals and movie theaters.

The high-tech paper does, however, allow FM radio waves and emergency frequencies to pass through. The paper, which has a snowflake pattern on it but can be covered up by traditional wallpaper, is made from renewable resources and is recyclable, according to the Centre Technique du Papier.

Conductive silver ink and metallic patterns on the wallpaper filter around 99% of waves coming from outside, according to the French newspaper Le Monde, which published a story on the topic earlier this year. However, a room cannot be completely safeguarded by the paper - unless you use it to seal off floor, ceilings and windows, of course.

The metapaper also advertises itself as a healthy alternative, since it claims to reduce a person's exposure to electromagnetic waves. Scientists behind the product point to studies that say the overuse of wireless technology could cause harmful heath effects.

The Finnish firm Ahlstrom acquired the rights to the metapaper. Exact cost estimates have not been released. According to the Centre Technique du Papier, the paper is not yet commercially available because it is still in the industrialization phase.

source

[ShMaunder]

Thought I remember reading this on here https://www.neowin.net/news/affordable-wifi-blocking-wallpaper-metapaper-revealed

CNN are late to the news.

[Charisma Veteran]

Just what I always suggested for electrosensitivity or securing your Wi-Fi, confine yourself in a giant Faraday cage.

And the only thing better than a giant Faraday cage is a pretty, snowflake-adorned giant Faraday cage! (Y)

[.Neo]

A simple password and only allowing registered devices to connect to the router achieves the same thing. It's also a whole lot cheaper than remodeling your entire house with new wallpaper.

[.Neo]

Buildings also tend to have windows. Do you need to cover those up with wallpaper too?

[Glassed Silver]

A simple password and only allowing registered devices to connect to the router achieves the same thing. It's also a whole lot cheaper than remodeling your entire house with new wallpaper.

WPA2 + disabling WPS + MAC filter + VPN (for the paranoids) = best you can have on regular hardware. :)

Glassed Silver:mac

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

WPA2 + disabling WPS + MAC filter + VPN (for the paranoids) = best you can have on regular hardware. :)

Glassed Silver:mac

Where is the VPN going to be run? (And the MAC Filter is useless if you have WPA2)

[oliver182]

(And the MAC Filter is useless if you have WPA2)

Honest question here, why is that?

[Detection]

Buildings also tend to have windows. Do you need to cover those up with wallpaper too?

Yea and do you only paper one side of each room with it too ? I kinda like my wifi being able to go through some walls

[sc302 Veteran]

WPA2 + disabling WPS + MAC filter + VPN (for the paranoids) = best you can have on regular hardware. :)

Glassed Silver:mac

I won't make fun of this, but so you know anything can spoof a MAC address. MAC filtering is about as useful as wrapping your router in toilet paper to add another layer of protection.

http://www.techrepub...mac-address/395

[McKay]

Perhaps hide the SSID?

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Edit: ^ You can't actually hide the SSID, you need it to connect to the network (i.e. the computer uses the SSID to generate keys, etc.). The "Hide SSID" setting on your router just sets a flag on your connection to hide it in the GUI, somebody trying to break into your network will just ignore that flag.

Honest question here, why is that?

You can set the MAC address on the connecting computer to anything you want, while the password is managed by the actual router and can't be faked (And using WPA2 has other benefits, like giving each computer their own secure connection to the router, no eavesdropping on other computers).

To compare it to a door lock, MAC filtering is as good as a bit of sticky tape over the key hole, you still need the key to get in, etc.

[sc302 Veteran]

Perhaps hide the SSID?

this is also a misnomer. This does nothing to protect you as your client (the one you use to connect to the wireless) sends the name out when you connect in plain text (this is not encrypted nor can it be with today's means), if someone is scanning the air looking for networks they can easily grab it.

http://www.howtogeek.com/?post_type=post&p=28653

[Detection]

MAC filtering and hiding SSID will do nothing to stop anyone with half a clue on hacking

[sc302 Veteran]

MAC filtering and hiding SSID will do nothing to stop anyone with half a clue on hacking

or anyone that can use google and be able to search youtube.

[Detection]

or anyone that can use google and be able to search youtube.

yea exactly the way I learned the small amount I know

That, and Security Now on twit :p