In essence, programmable metasurfaces are electromagnetic surfaces that can be seamlessly integrated into everyday objects, from wallpaper to window glass. Their primary goal is to enhance communication channels. Still, their newfound susceptibility to exploitation could spell trouble for the 6G landscape.
One of the potential threats outlined in the study is the passive use of metasurfaces for eavesdropping on wireless interactions between devices and interference with signals. By manipulating the properties of the metasurface swiftly, an attacker could disrupt communication between a router and its user, leading to a significant degradation in data transfer speeds.
