Having a drone and bright heads, a group of Belgian scientists from the University of Waterloo, led by Dr. Ali Abedi, created a copter capable of determining the location of devices connected to Wi-Fi with an accuracy of a meter. For this, researchers needed to create a device called Wi-Peep, collected from the components widely accessible for sale worth only $ 20.
The device works is easy-when the drone flies to the desired building, Wi-Peep begins to “call” the Wi-Fi-network of the victim. This is done with the help of technical vulnerability, called “polite Wi-Fi”, which makes all gadgets in the house respond to every attempt to connect to the network of any third-party device even if they are unsuccessful.
Having discovered all devices on the network, Wi-Peep sends several data packages to each of them, and then measures the time that has passed between the package sending and obtaining an answer, which allows you to determine the location of the devices inside the building with an accuracy of 1 meter.
As Ali Abedi noted, this technology will be useful to attackers during planning to robbing houses, showing where surveillance cameras and expensive technology for theft or hacking are located. In addition, they will be able to monitor the movements of the guards in banks on smartphones and hours.
Abedi hopes that this development will entail changes to the next generation Wi-Fi protocols. In the meantime, it calls for manufacturers of Wi-Fi chips to set a randomized device for response, which will allow to “outpatient” Wi-Peep.