Wi-Fi-blocking wallpaper keeps your signal in, intruders out

JMH · May 11, 2012

New Wallpaper created by French scientists hopes to solve your problems by blocking Wi-Fi signals.

French scientists have created a they of wallpaper that can block Wi-Fi signal, meaning you can boost your network security and redecorate all in one go. The prototype paper, created by researchers at Grenoble's Institute of Technology, is made up of special patterns of silver crystals that were created in such a way that block the frequencies used by Wi-Fi routers.

http://www.itworld.com/security/276652/wi-fi-blocking-wallpaper-keeps-your-signal-intruders-out

satrow · May 11, 2012

Not only that, but if you were to decorate using this wallpaper in one of your roooms, you would be limiting yourself from using the wireless network within any other rooms of your home. That kind of defeats the whole purpose of wireless--why use this when you could just use an ethernet cable?

Despite the obvious questionable practically behind this wallpaper, it is still clever.

This makes the reporting look very narrow-minded; is it against some new fashionista security diktat that wallpaper can only be used on all walls within a room?

For anyone with a detached or partially-detached property to defend, it reads like an interesting option. When the flexible version is developed, a parapluie that doubles as a WiFi shield might protect more than just your new coiffure from the elements. <Merde, did I just lose my chance of getting a patent on that?>

Or maybe the reporter's a Euro-sceptic :cool3:

Corrine · May 11, 2012

Excellent points, satrow. Even if the homeowner wanted to paper all the walls of a room, the manufacturer could make the paper available without blocking for inside walls.

TheCyberMan · May 12, 2012

Interesting cheaper option for shielding for business.

For residential quite expensive i would envisage when commercially available.

Production trials give an idea of how effective it could be.

Same as shielding you can direct the signal down a particular path.

Even if the homeowner wanted to paper all the walls of a room, the manufacturer could make the paper available without blocking for inside walls.

If the article is accurate then this would not be the case as it is acting as shielding.

satrow · May 12, 2012

If the shielded paper was only used on the external/periphery/boundary walls, it should have zero limiting effect within those limits. Internal wallpaper could be just that - paper, matching in colour and sheen etc. of the shielded version, if so wished.

Why not have a shielded room/cubicle for someone who does not want to be bombarded by unseen rays for 8+ hour per day?

Used intelligently, this could be very useful.

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Wi-Fi-blocking wallpaper keeps your signal in, intruders out

JMH

Emeritus, Contributor

satrow

Moderator, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

TheCyberMan

Networking Expert

satrow

Moderator, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Wi-Fi-blocking wallpaper keeps your signal in, intruders out

JMH

Emeritus, Contributor

satrow

Moderator, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Corrine

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

TheCyberMan

Networking Expert

satrow

Moderator, BSOD Kernel Dump Senior Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst