Within the next three years, the 802.11bf Wi-Fi standard will be released. One of the lesser-known components of the specification will be the ability of Wi-Fi devices to sense the presence, range, velocity, and proximity of people and objects.
While this new feature could usher in a wave of new and innovative products, those pushing the Wi-Fi Sensing project (SENS) haven’t considered the security and privacy issues that come along with it. In a recent paper from Northeastern University, researchers worry that this addition to the new Wi-Fi specification could lead to surreptitious monitoring as signals can penetrate walls and operate covertly.
