- Xfinity, a comcast brand, has introduced a new feature called Wi-Fi Motion
- It allows an Xfinity router and up to three devices connected to Wi-Fi to create a movement detection system
- The function is not available for everyone, but some users already have possible privacy concerns.
Having a router that works as a movement detector was not on our bingo card by 2025, and yet we are here. Xfinity By Comcast has introduced Wi-Fi Motion, a function that allows you to convert your printer, your intelligent refrigerator or your television, among other things, into a movement detector. But is something good?
Since we are constantly connected to the Internet these days, many of us assume that our devices have some type of knowledge base about our life and daily habits.
We have some of the The best smart watches Monitoring of our dream, training and heart rate. As another example, Microsoft RetirementNow in the preview will review our files to facilitate life. Meanwhile, AI attendees can already read our emails and summarize them for us. Privacy is a merchandise that we are staying at a fast pace.
In a world like this, having movement detection functions in our home, without charge, does not sound so bad. But some users are concerned about the possible disadvantages of Xfinity’s Wi-Fi movement, this is what you need to know.
How does the XFinity Wi-Fi movement work?
As Xfinity describes, the Wi-Fi movement connects its compatible Xfinity Gateway (either the XB8 or the Technicolor XB7 CGM4981com) to up to three eligible, always active stationary devices. Then, think of things like printers or smart refrigerators, instead of smartphones and tablets. The function is in early access and is only available for selected customers at this time.
The function is extinguished by default, but once enabled, it converts its router and those three devices into a movement detection system. This creates an oval way of Wi-Fi coverage, and anything that interrupts these signals can be detected as movement. It is worth noting that the coverage extends from the router and towards each device separately, and the devices themselves do not provide movement detection with each other.
Let’s say this Wi-Fi signal network detects the movement, what then? Xfinity allows you to adjust what happens, but the long short story is that you will receive a notification (see below), indicating that the movement has been detected. This technology works in several rooms and floors, but cannot identify where the motion was carried out, and will only tell you what device saw it.
You can choose the type of movement on which you will be notified. For example, it is possible to ignore pets below 40 pounds, saving it from meaningless pings every time your dog crosses the room.
However, as he pointed out CybernewsXfinity cannot always notice the difference between a large pet and a small child. You can choose different sensitivity levels to minimize notifications, and you can also configure alerts to leave only during certain moments of the day.
On paper, this sounds good, an additional security system for your home without additional charge. However, some users are also concerned about privacy.
Why are some users worried about privacy?
Constantly tracked in your own home could make you feel restless, so for those of you who find this somewhat spooky idea, you are not alone. But these privacy concerns, periodically shared by users since the Wi-Fi motion was announced for the first time, to a large extent of the Xfinity’s function itself.
Although Comcast points out that Wi-Fi Motion “is not a home security service and is not professionally monitored”, the company will still generate and store data related to the detection of movement in your home. Comcast can also, without notifying you first, sharing those data with third parties if requested as part of an investigation, procedure or a court order or citation.
This implies that Comcast could tell the police if I was at home at a given time and some users in the Hackers News Forums They were not great fans of that. However, others point out that their ISP already has such information thanks to the use of the Internet and the phones pings, even when it is not in use.
Beyond sharing data with third parties, movement detection could open the door to a lot of cybersecurity threats. If the data falls into the wrong hands, a lot of confidential information could be filtered, including data on when it is at home and when not.
The impact of the Wi-Fi movement is not clear at this time. If it is an Xfinity user, you can omit the function and easily avoid any potential risk.
Even so, this new characteristic, although certainly innovative, invites a greater debate about privacy, when exactly enough is enough and how many data we are willing to share with third parties. It will definitely leave some people who fight to choose between the additional security of the home and give up a little more privacy, so we are interested in seeing how it develops from here.
