06/09/2026
Security researchers have found that conventional WiFi routers can potentially be used as covert surveillance tools capable of tracking and identifying individuals with up to 99.5% accuracy. A team at Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology demonstrated that, by taking advantage of an unencrypted feature in modern wireless protocols known as beamforming feedback information, routers can function similarly to cameras. Instead of using light, they rely on radio waves to detect and interpret human shapes and movements.
According to the researchers, the system can identify a person within seconds based on characteristics such as body mass, physical shape, and walking pattern. This can occur even when the individual is not carrying a mobile phone or when their device is completely switched off. As long as nearby wireless devices are actively exchanging data, radio signals can reflect off human bodies and provide information to an AI model trained to recognize distinctive body silhouettes and movement patterns.
Experts have raised concerns because this form of tracking does not require specialized equipment or access to network passwords. They warn that ordinary wireless networks in homes, workplaces, airports, and other public spaces could potentially be transformed into a widespread surveillance system without people's knowledge. In response, the research team is urging developers of future international wireless standards to implement stronger privacy protections by encrypting these signals and reducing the risk of unauthorized tracking.