Engineers of the University of Waterloo they developed a device called Wi-Peep based on drones that spot people behind walls in seconds. The main condition is that they must have at least some device capable of responding to an attempt to establish contact via WiFi. Basically, a smartphone or any device connected to the network can be "spied" through this vulnerability of the WiFi.
A team of researchers, exploiting a WiFi and drone vulnerability, were able to spy inside the house and see through the walls
Wi-peep uses a trick the developers call "polite WiFi". Even if the network is password protected, devices will still automatically respond to attempts to contact other devices. Wi-Peep sends messages to nearby devices during the flight of connected drones, then measures the response time for each of them, matching the coordinates within one meter. The technology isn't new, but it's the first time the developers have managed to do it with components economic: a regular drone, two WiFi modules, and a $ 20 voltage regulator.
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The range of applications of this device is more harmful than beneficial. Yes, it can be used to search for people in the rubble or find unregistered shelters and laboratories where something illegal is going on. However, much more often it can be used as preparatory measure before a theft: think of the localization of vulnerabilities in the home or verification of the absence of CCTV cameras. For example, as reported by NewsAtlas competing hotels will spying on each other measuring the number of rooms used, while security guards wearing smart watches will indicate the trajectory of their path.
Scientists ask manufacturers of wireless networking equipment to randomize response times until the vulnerability is resolved globally.
Source | University of Waterloo