Wallpaper That Blocks WiFi Snooping - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.

So you thought your wallpaper was just good for looking pretty? Researchers may have found another clever use.

Scientists in France have invented a special kind of wallpaper that blocks certain electromagnetic waves. The wallpaper blocks wifi signals using a conductive ink that contains particles of silver. The wallpaper only blocks some signals though and would allow am/fm radio signals and emergency transmissions through, and it does not interrupt cell phone reception signals. The Grenoble Institute of Technology has released a prototype, hoping to make the wallpaper commercially available soon at an affordable price comparable to mid-price home-decor wallpaper currently on the market. British scientists came up with a similar product, but it was too costly for most with a pricetag of 500 pounds per square foot.

If you are worried about your neighbor or a stranger accessing your wifi connection, this might be a good reason to invest in some high tech wallpaper. Corporate snooping is also a concern as companies developing mapping technologies or database for marketing purposes can get your personal information through your wifi connection.