A new spray-on antenna technology from a small company named Chamtech has gained a lot of media attention. Also described as spray-on WiFi, the technology allows users to spray-paint wireless antennas onto anything from walls to cars to trees.
While the rest of the world tries to imagine what it could do for cellular and Internet services, I of course, cannot help wondering what it could do for security.
Click here to view Figure 1.
How it works
First, allow me to explain how it works. Chamtech’s spray-on antenna uses a nano-material made up of millions of microscopic capacitors. When sprayed or painted onto a surface it acts as an amplified wireless antenna extending wireless signals without the use of an external power source and without generating any heat. Some testing revealed that the technology could extend wireless range more than a hundredfold.
For IP CCTV applications, this could greatly simplify wireless installations. Need to transmit a camera wirelessly through a forest? No problem, simply spray a little paint on a few trees and instantly you will have a perfectly reliably wireless link. Line-of-sight could become a problem of the past if a coat of paint is all you need to relay signals through buildings, trees, and other obstacles.
Access control possibilities
The potential goes far beyond wireless surveillance systems. When tested on an RFID chip with a five-foot read range, the spray-on antenna extended the chip’s range to seven hundred feet. Extending RFID in such a simple manner could revolutionize access control. Unfortunately, besides the obvious benefits of an extended read-range, there are also enormous risks. Could spray-painting a card reader cause a door to unlock as it reads a fob hundreds of feet away? Obviously not a risk any security professional would want to face.
Short-range wireless technologies like Bluetooth could also suffer. These technologies enjoy certain security benefits that come directly from having a limited wireless range. Hackers need to be in close proximity to devices in order to hack them using Bluetooth, but that might change. Could a quick coat of paint leave your device accessible via Bluetooth from hundreds or even thousands of feet away? If it could, we might all be treating our Bluetooth devices very differently.
Fortunately, for now, we will not have to worry about these security threats. The spray-on antenna is not yet available to the general public. In fact, apart from Chamtech, it is unclear who has access to it other than the US government — which just opens up a whole new level of questions and possibilities, including whether the US government has exclusive rights to the technology or not. Let us just hope that whoever does thinks carefully before they start painting.
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That is revolutionary, reading the article you linked to I saw that they got gains by spray painting a tree of all things that is truly incredible. The gains possible sound amazing and could have many potential uses my concern is like yours in that some creative minds might find away to use it for less than honorable purposes. Your example cited key access, I would wonder about swipeless payment system access if you have keys and cards with smart chips what is to keep you credit card from now having a 700 meter range as well. I dont know… Read more »
After having my “I don’t believe it” moment and checking the diary for April fools day, I then had a “wow” moment. Brilliant technology that cleverer people than me will find hundreds of applications for, just shows what can be achieved when you get people with brains the size of planets in one room! Covert and Overt CCTV, I think is the obvious security application especially in difficult terrain but extending the wireless range of any security device has to be a great step forward for security professionals and customers. Hopefully, it can work hand-in-hand with good encryption technology for… Read more »
It’s probably important to note that this is new, experimental technology, and we haven’t actually personally used it. But it’s great fun to think about the possibilities of this and other future tech. Like everyone, I’ve been thinking about what you could do with — and the potential security concerns of — 3D printing, recently. Locked out of your home? 3D print a new key, maybe?
Perhaps Colin could get hold of a can to test!? Although perhaps still in the realms of “James Bond” and not available to the general public yet!
This is extremely good innovation in technology, however, I think this technology must not be made available to the public because it will easily fall in the hands of extremist and they could use it for mayhem in our country
I’ve been watching this for a few years now. While it might not be an April fools joke it kind of does look like vaporware or at least a product techies like to talk about without actually having access to it. In theory it’s a great idea, extend the range of wireless devices of all kinds without repeaters hanging off of your buildings but I think the biggest question here is when/if we will ever see it available for purchase.
@Mike Clauss: I think this will take time to develop and spread towards the market itself but it’s a good sign to see this is been tested and the developments of it is in progress rather than just having the idea but not executing it properly.
I’m not so sure that it exists in the form that Chamtech’s press department suggests that it does. There is very little that you can find on the product aside from articles that might as well be photocopies of each other. In concept I’m sure it works but I after a lot of searching I never found any practical application of it or anyone who had actually held a can of it in their hands.
Same here, so I think it’s best we think of it as a ‘concept’ rather than a reality. A nice piece of future tech envisaging.
Nevermind about my concern its already being done. http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/hackers-could-clone-your-office-key-card-your-pocket-6C10748899
But if this is real then the range it can be done from could be increased exponentially.
interesting point, I’m agree with you from my point of view it the same this days Co. do create hype about technology… but a lot of the time technology do fail to deliver in real word…
@Alexander Stephens: Why do you feel that way ? Do you think technology lacks support or resources? What do you suggest as a solution for this ?
how, I see it… money and hype to present old technology as new one…
as example light/ultrabooks/netbooks I seen them in 2000 and 2005 but no Co. was willing to invest in hype…
Batye very true. I also feel that Co. in competition try to use these ploy to get the profits. They advertise heavily and even get the response they want as people will definitely take a try into new and better claimed technology but till the time they understand the ploy its way too late for them.
OK, I think enough time has passed for all the fun.
You all do realize this spray is a put-on, a hoax?