There's that guy again, cruising down the block, scanning the airwaves for an open Wi-Fi network named "LINKSYS" or "NETGEAR" that the owner didn't bother to password-protect. Maybe he's just a freeloader. But what if he's an identity thief out to view your browsing history and — gasp — maybe even your bank statements! Wouldn't it be nice if you could both beautify your home and make your Wi-Fi network just disappear?

French researchers from the Grenoble Institute of Technology and the Centre Technique du Papier have developed a way to do both, with a wallpaper that shields your home from Wi-Fi signals – incoming or outgoing.

The paper blocks electromagnetic radiation in the frequencies used by Wi-Fi, letting radio waves and cellphone signals pass through without interference.

You'll need to get creative with your interior design, using the paper only on exterior walls so you don't block Wi-Fi inside the house. But it's the perfect things to slap up on the bedroom walls of your Facebook-addicted teen.

(hat tip to Ars Technica)