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RF-Blocking Wallpaper
spitefulcrow writes "Silicon.com is reporting on a new application for RF-absorbing materials: Wallpaper that blocks Wi-Fi. BAE, the British defense contractor, has announced that the same material used to foil radar by stealth bombers can be used to selectively block certain frequencies and prevent wireless networking signals from entering or exiting a building. Is this the next take on lining the walls with lead?"
Sounds good if you're doing a makeover of, say, a secure military area.
Obviously you can still pipe stuff through wires. (you know, those plastic/rubber coated strings of metal? remember them?)
If you were concerned enough about Wi-Fi security to buy this stuff, wouldn't you consider Wi-Fi enough of a security problem to ban it from your network environment? And what if this stuff doesn't come in the right color? Also - does anyone use IPSec on Wi-Fi networks? (given that WEP can be cracked with a large enough data capture)
Why take the risk of an outsider breaking your encryption if you can prevent their access to the signal in the first place?
The attacker may well be inside the building; business offices are generally not run as military zones! And what about the windows of the building; will they be covered too? Breaking high encryption is probably not as easy as bribing a staff member to for access.
___
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UK **defence** contractor
For some applications encryption isn't enough. Note also that WEP is a commercial encryption system this means it is NOT secure enough for very serious military applications which is where technologies like this play a role by preventing leakage or blocking interference.
"Why not just encrypt?"
Uh, when's the last time you had the electrons from your monitor's gun encrypted on the way to the screen? Right, never. That's what i thought...there are many, many forms of RF that can give away what it is that you are doing on a computer...encryption is only the beginning of the game.
So place a red phone in every theatre with a low-level lit sign to show everyone where it is in an emergency.
What about the windows and doors? RF goes through them too. I could just see somebody wallpapering their ceiling also. (It's such a lovely print though!)
It really strikes me as a product for the "Security-Concerned-But-Uninformed", because I really wonder how many companies that want to use this will block other means of RF egress. And those that don't will simply have a false sense of security and a big hole in their "defenses".
Believe me, I'm literally right across the hall from a "RF-Secure" room at times, and that has EVERYTHING covered in every direction, windows, doors, floor and ceiling.
@Whee
If being contactable means they have to spoil everyone else's enjoyment of the film, then...
Yes. Absolutely. I want to exclude these people from the cinema completely.
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
Stuff like this will restore the peace and quiet to theaters and restaurants. And the passive nature of the material means it should not run afoul of U.S. FCC regs on "interference" (I don't know about other countries' rules).
Assuming the material is actually absorptive (not reflective) at cell-phone frequencies, it would also reduce the passage of cellphone signals into and out of airplanes and reduce any chance of passenger's cell phone transmissions from interfering with the airplane's electronics or the ground-based cells they are flying over.
Finally, they could use the stuff to help separate WiFi networks in office and apartment buildings. A layer of the stuff under the carpet or in the ceiling would keep wifi signals confined to a single tenant's floor or section of the building so that different tenant's wireless nets don't collide.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
However, we should never block cell phone reception anywhere.
What if a doctor were to go watch a movie and one of his patients started dying and he needed to be contacted? What if a loved one were in an accident and people were trying to get ahold of you so you could possibly see them before they died?
There are many scenarios where having cell reception is important.
Just try to use the vibrate or silent mode. I can deal with people forgetting to turn their phones off in a movie (though I myself have the courtesy to turn mine off), as long as they don't yack on them in the theater.
Conserve Oil, Recycle, Boycott Walmart
Serriosely if you job requires your assistance even when your in a cinema... and you can't escape for a measly 2 hours, get a new job.
I'm a parent.
Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
wrap the drug infusion pumps...
I bet it would cost a lot less than wallpapering the entire hospital...
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
That's nice. Put your phone on vibrate. When it rings and says "Home" (or worse, the sitter's cell phone #) get up, go into the hallway, and answer it. If you're not fast enough, witness the wonder of using the "missed calls" list. This is also why god invented text messaging, which we Americans just haven't seemed to figure out quite yet. "Nick is screaming for his ba-wa-na, what/where is that?" "Joey ran into the wall, at e-room, hes ok but need med insurance info". Etc.
Incidentally, for well over half a decade people went to the cinema, dinner, etc and left their kids behind with a sitter...with no cell phone. Don't give me this "I'm a parent, I simply must be within seconds contact of my children at all times" bullshit.
Please help metamoderate.