A new security technique promises to uniquely identify any Wi-Fi device in the world, so hackers cannot hide behind a fake MAC address.Every wireless device has a unique signal “fingerprint” produced by variations produced in the manufacturing process for silicon components, according to Dr. Jeyanthi Hall, a post-graduate working at Carleton University in Ottawa.As a doctoral student, Hall analyzed the radio frequency signals of 15 devices from six manufacturers, and found it was possible to distinguish clearly, even between devices from the same manufacturer.Using “transceiverprints,” Hall got a detection rate of 95 percent, and a false positive rate of zero, according to a draft paper submitted to the IEEE Transactions on Dependable and Secure Computing. She achieved this reliability in the task of “recognizing” the transceiverprint from a prerecorded set—a job that could usefully be built into a wireless IDS, she says in the paper. Beyond this, things could get even more exciting: “It would be interesting to identify the correct transceiver (from the set of all profiled transceivers), using the same set of transceiverprints,” she says.Hall used a probabilistic neural network to work out the transceiverprint and compare it with stored prints. Although the signal processing equipment and analysis software is specialized at present, it could eventually be delivered on a more general-purpose signal processer system, Hall hopes, according to a report in Electronic Engineering Times. Limiting network access to specific devices using MACs has been a possible security technique for some time, and is included in many Wi-Fi systems. However, it has mostly been dismissed by security professionals, as it is easy to spoof the MAC address of a device. Comparing the MAC to a prerecorded transceiverprint would make an access control list based on devices feasible again.-Peter Judge, Techworld.com (London)Keep checking in at our CSO Security Feed page for updated news coverage. Related content feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions Mergers and Acquisitions brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime news analysis China’s offensive cyber operations support “soft power” agenda in Africa Researchers track Chinese cyber espionage intrusions targeting African industrial sectors. By Michael Hill Sep 21, 2023 5 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks Critical Infrastructure brandpost Proactive OT security requires visibility + prevention You cannot protect your operation by simply watching and waiting. It is essential to have a defense-in-depth approach. By Austen Byers Sep 21, 2023 4 mins Security Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe