Wallpaper Protects Wi-Fi Networks

June 22, 2004 By Ian Bell

British defence contractor BAE Systems has developed a stealth wallpaper designed to stop electronic eavesdropping on Wi-Fi networks.

The company has produced panels designed to prevent outsiders from listening in on companies’ Wi-Fi traffic but let other traffic through, including radio and mobile phone signals.

The FSS (Frequency Selective Surface) panels are made in the same way as printed circuit boards, with layers of copper on Kapton polymer. These materials are also used in stealth bombers and fighter jets. The panels come in two varieties: passive, which is permanently turned on, and active, where various areas can be switched on and off to enlarge or limit the area of the network.

The panels are 50 to 100 microns thick and can be applied to most surfaces, including glass. A company representative said that they also helped reduce “noise” in buildings where a number of companies operate their own separate LANs (local area networks).

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