Comcast just turned millions of Xfinity routers into motion sensors

Comcast launched Xfinity Shield, a home protection platform that includes WiFi Motion, an opt-in feature turning millions of Xfinity routers into motion sensors without cameras. The platform offers WiFi Shield at no extra cost to Xfinity Internet customers and Shield Select with AI-enhanced monitoring and emergency services for $15 per month. Comcast may disclose WiFi Motion data to third parties for law enforcement or legal proceedings without notice, raising privacy concerns.

Comcast launched https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-introduces-intelligent-home-protection-a-new-category-for-the-connected-home-with-xfinity-shield Xfinity Shield today, a new home protection platform that includes a feature to turn routers into motion sensors. Here are the details. Xfinity Shield is new security platform that includes ‘WiFi Motion’ feature for motion sensing Home security used to be all about physical threats of break-ins, but these days it also extends to cyber threats. And with Comcast’s new Xfinity Shield platform, the company aims to protect users in both areas. Xfinity Shield has two offerings: WiFi Shield provides security built into Xfinity WiFi at no additional cost to Xfinity Internet customers, and Shield Select further extends protection through hardware, AI-enhanced monitoring and access to emergency services for $15 per month. You can read the finer details of Xfinity Shield in the press release https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-introduces-intelligent-home-protection-a-new-category-for-the-connected-home-with-xfinity-shield . But one especially noteworthy point involves turning existing routers in users’ homes into motion sensors. An opt-in feature, WiFi Motionuses the Xfinity Gateway and connected devices to detect motion inside the home – without cameras or traditional motion detectors. Using Xfinity Gateway intelligence, WiFi Motion detects changes in the home’s radio frequency signal between the Xfinity Gateway and a WiFi connected device, then sends instant notifications to customers through the Xfinity app when unexpected activity is detected. It provides an added layer of awareness without recording video, capturing images or identifying individuals. Not every Xfinity router offers motion sensing support, but many do. Per this support page https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/wifi-motion?cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww&pageid=7194ef805fa2d04b0f7e8c9521f97343&cjevent=65bd1de99b4111f180b200200a82b821&cmp=aff 100091680 , the opt-in feature is available across Technicolor XB7, XB8, XB9, XB10, MXB1, and XER10. There’s a privacy component worth mentioning though. As noted by TechCrunch , that same page says: “Subject to applicable law, Comcast may disclose information generated by your WiFi Motion to third parties without further notice to you in connection with any law enforcement investigation or proceeding, any dispute to which Comcast is a party, or pursuant to a court order or subpoena.” It’s good to know that motion data won’t be sold to third-party advertisers, for example. But if you’re concerned at all about the privacy implications, you can always refrain from enabling the WiFi Motion feature. Will you use the new motion sensing feature of your Xfinity router? Let us know in the comments. Shop at Apple with 15% discount on certified refurbished Best iPhone accessories AirPods Pro 3 https://amzn.to/3Peq3Ge now only $189 , down from $249 MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone https://amzn.to/4tSJYde 10-year AirTag battery case https://amzn.to/4e6O6R2 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter https://amzn.to/48EbPVU AirTag 2 https://amzn.to/48BACtL 1-pack https://amzn.to/48BACtL / 4-pack https://amzn.to/3OFX4Lv FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. https://9to5mac.com/about/ affiliate our homepage http://9to5mac.com/ for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on exclusive stories https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/ , reviews https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/ , how-tos https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/ , and subscribe to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac