Comcast Turned Millions of Routers Into Motion Sensors. Here’s the Off Switch
Some newer home Wi-Fi systems can do more than connect your devices.
Comcast’s Xfinity Shield can use compatible gateways and connected devices to detect movement by measuring changes in Wi-Fi signals, even without a camera. The technology can have useful applications, such as detecting motion in a home without placing cameras in private areas, but it also raises understandable privacy questions.
The article recommends checking your router or internet provider’s app for settings labeled WiFi Motion, motion, sensing, Shield, or similar terms. Comcast says its WiFi Motion feature is off unless a customer enables it, but reviewing the setting is still worthwhile so you know exactly which features are active in your home. Users of other router or mesh systems may want to perform the same check for comparable motion-sensing features.
The larger takeaway is that routers and smart-home devices increasingly offer capabilities that go beyond basic internet access. Periodically reviewing the privacy and security settings in your router app can help make sure that optional features reflect your own preferences rather than simply remaining unnoticed.
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