A group of Italian researchers have developed a new surveillance technology called WhoFi. It may sound like science fiction, but it is real and terrifying. Usually, you need a camera, phone tracking or smartwatch to track someone. But WhoFi doesn't need any of these. This system works in a completely different way. The Wi-Fi signals around us bounce off our bodies, and each person's body reflects the signal differently. It is based on this unique pattern that the system can understand who the person is. It can be called a kind of "biometric fingerprint" that is invisible to the naked eye but is different for each person.
This means that WhoFi can recognize you even if you move from one room to another or change places. Surprisingly, it doesn't require your permission and there are no cameras or devices visible anywhere. Previous technologies have tried to identify people using Wi-Fi, but the success rate was about 75%. But WhoFi works much more accurately using neural networks and common, cheap Wi-Fi routers.
Researchers say that this technology can track people through walls or in dark rooms. As a result, it could be more powerful than camera systems. It is still in the experimental stage, but since it works with a simple router, it is possible to start using it on a large scale very quickly. And that is the biggest concern – because in the future, our own home Wi-Fi may be watching us.
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