According to the good folks at the BBC, the new formula of paint developed by the University of Japan can block neighbours from accessing their home network. Apparently, the paint includes an aluminium-iron oxide, which “resonates at the same frequency as wi-fi”.

As a result, it creates a cast-iron cell in which wireless broadband signals are blocked from getting in and getting out. One that’s so effective that encryption simply isn’t required, the paint’s creators claim.

But it seems that whilst this is all very useful from a home security point of view, it’s not quite as practical from a national security perspective. Cisco Systems’ Mark Jackson reckons that it’s no substitute for a proper, more robust system of rebuffing hacker attacks. And at £10 per pot, it’s too expensive to be viable, he reckons.

He’s probably right. But we still love the ingenuity of this old school solution to a modern day problem. We just don’t suppose we’ll be seeing it on the shelves of Wickes any time soon.

But what do you think? Is the anti-Wi-Fi paint just putting a gloss on problems? Or is it a cover-all for all your security needs? Tell us in the comments section below.