The Vulnerability of Wireless Networks
We thought our wireless networks were secure, but they may not be.
Research out of Rice University uncovered an eavesdropping security vulnerability in high-frequency and high-speed wireless backhaul links. Unfortunately, these links are often used in critical applications, including 5G wireless cell phone signals and low-latency financial trading on Wall Street. The team exposed a way to intercept data using a metasurface-equipped drone called MetaFly. They published their findings in the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in May 2024.
CREDIT: Photo courtesy of Rice University.
Wireless backhaul links are critical to the backbone of modern communication networks, connecting end users to the main networks. Given their physical and technological barriers, it was believed that eavesdropping could not happen. Rice, in collaboration with researchers at Brown University and Northeastern University, demonstrated how a strong adversary can bypass these defenses with alarming ease. Using MetaFly, they intercepted high-frequency signals between rooftops in the Boston metropolitan area, leaving almost no trace.
The research represents a significant step in understanding sophisticated threats such as MetaFly and safeguarding the communication infrastructure.
