With many people across the UK still working from home, maintaining a strong  Wi-Fi signal is absolutely necessary - but it can sometimes be an issue. Many households also rely on the internet for their entertainment, so a poor signal can be frustrating. 

But a mind-blowing hack to improve the  Wi-Fi signal has left the online community surprised. A user on X claimed that putting a sheet of aluminium foil around your Wi-Fi router can boost its signal. The post by @Buhlenomuhle reads: “Put an Aluminium Foil behind your Wi-Fi Router and Thank Me Later!!!”

Several social media users quickly flocked to the comment section to understand what the tin foil exactly does. 

One of the users said: “Actually a legit Wi-Fi hack! The aluminium foil behind the router works as a parabolic reflector, bouncing radio waves forward and concentrating the signal where you need it most.”

“Here’s why it helps: Boosts signal strength in a specific direction (e.g., toward your room or office). Reduces signal waste going into unused spaces (like walls or corners). Can help with fewer dead zones and better speeds… especially in large or oddly shaped homes.”

Sharing a quick tip, the online user suggested shaping the foil like a curved dish (not flat) for better focus. 

Another responded: "This works. Aluminium foil can affect Wi-Fi signals. It acts as a conductor and can block or reflect electromagnetic waves, including the radio frequencies used by WiFi (typically 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

"If you place aluminium foil between a Wi-Fi router and a device, it may weaken or completely block the signal, depending on the thickness and coverage. This is why some people use foil to redirect WiFi signals by reflecting them."

The science behind this hack had already been discussed by a group of researchers a few years ago. The computer scientists said in 2017 that placing aluminium foil, particularly if wrapped around a 3D printed shape or cardboard, near the router's antennae can boost its signal as well as strengthen cybersecurity. Xia Zhou, then an assistant professor of computer science at Dartmouth, said during the 2017 BuildSys conference: "Through this single solution, we address a number of challenges that plague wireless users. Not only do we strengthen wireless signals, we make those same signals more secure."