Your home WiFi connects more than just phones and computers. From smart TVs and gaming consoles to connected appliances and other smart devices, your WiFi network is at the center of your connected home. WiFi Shield helps you keep that connection protected while giving you more visibility and control over what’s happening on your network.
WiFi Shield helps protect your home internet and connected devices from online threats. It acts like a built-in safety layer for your WiFi network, helping keep your devices and personal information secure. WiFi Shield:
- Blocks risky websites, like phishing or malware
- Helps stop suspicious activity from reaching devices on your network
- Monitors devices in real time for unusual behavior
- Alerts members to potential security risks
- Protects all connected devices at once
What is WiFi Shield?
WiFi Shield is a built-in smart protection layer for your home WiFi network, included with Xfinity Internet and powered entirely by a compatible Xfinity WiFi Gateway. It combines four core features—CyberSecure, WiFi Motion, Dark Watch, and Family Settings—that work together using AI to learn what's normal in your home and flag what isn't.
Here, we take a closer look at each of the features included with WiFi Shield.
CyberSecure
CyberSecure is an always-on network threat protection that helps detect and block suspicious activity and sends proactive alerts when something looks off, protecting devices connected to your home WiFi as soon as they connect.
Always-on protection
- Helps detect and block suspicious activity on your network
- Sends proactive alerts when something looks off
- Protects every device connected to your home WiFi from the moment it connects
CyberSecure and Family Settings work together
CyberSecure doesn't just work in the background — it talks to Family Settings, too. If a device starts behaving unusually, CyberSecure alerts can influence Family Settings restrictions, giving you the context to take action quickly.
WiFi Motion
An opt-in feature, WiFi Motion uses the WiFi signal from compatible Xfinity Gateways to sense movement in your home without cameras or video recordings. It uses technology built into the Xfinity Gateway to sense motion between the gateway and other stationary, connected devices in your home. With WiFi Motion, you can:
- Detect motion between your Xfinity WiFi Gateway, Xfinity WiFi Extenders, and up to three additional WiFi connected, stationary devices, like a smart speaker or thermostat.
- Customize alerts for your routines while keeping privacy in your control.
Dark Watch
A nighttime monitoring mode that works with your bedtime routine, helping you stay aware of activity in your home while you sleep. You can select which devices can send notifications and schedule Dark Watch to activate automatically each night.
Protection that fits your routine
Choose from three modes to help manage motion notifications throughout the day and night:
Home Watch
When you’re home, motion alerts are off, so you can go about your day without unnecessary notifications.
Away Watch
Heading out? Away Watch turns motion alerts on so you can be notified if movement is detected while you’re gone. You can also set geofence reminders to help automatically switch between Home Watch and Away Watch.
Dark Watch
When it’s time for bed, Dark Watch can activate as part of your nighttime routine. You can choose specific devices to receive notifications, schedule Dark Watch to turn on automatically, and get reminders when your home’s mode changes.
Family Settings
Family Settings are a collection of tools to manage screen time, establish online boundaries, create individual profiles, and understand how family members are using connected devices.
More control over your family’s WiFi
Create custom profiles
Set up a profile for each person in the household, then assign devices to each one to track and manage usage individually.
Screen time tools
- Set daily screen time limits for each profile
- Choose to automatically pause WiFi when a limit is reached, or get a heads-up first
- View screen time details broken down by top apps
- Pause WiFi on any device for homework, dinner, or family time — manually or on a schedule
Parental controls
- Block unwanted sites
- Monitor online use to help your family explore the internet safely
Insights from CyberSecure
- Security alerts can help inform the restrictions you set. For example, by flagging unusual behavior from a device so you can take action.
Getting started with Xfinity WiFi Shield
Xfinity WiFi Shield is available to new and existing Xfinity Internet members with a compatible Xfinity WiFi Gateway, regardless of internet speed tier. If your gateway qualifies, you are ready to get started.
WiFi Shield compatible gateways
WiFi Shield requires the use of an Xfinity WiFi Gateway. Compatible gateways include:
- Technicolor TXB7, XB8, XB10, XB9, MXB1, or XER10
Not using an Xfinity WiFi Gateway? Visit the website to learn more and explore internet equipment.
Activate and manage WiFi Shield easily with Xfinity app
Getting started is simple. WiFi Shield is activated and managed through the Xfinity app, where guided setup flows walk you through enabling its features. Once activated, you can manage CyberSecure, WiFi Motion, Dark Watch, and Family Settings from the Home tab.
To get started:
- Open the Xfinity app and navigate to WiFi Shield.
- Enable the features you want to use.
- Follow the guided setup to configure your settings.
- Manage your features, schedules, modes, and notifications from the Xfinity app.
Want built-in home protection with Xfinity Shield?
Your home network does a lot of work every day. Explore the built-in tools from Xfinity Shield that can help protect your home, keep an eye on activity, and manage how your family uses WiFi.
Ready to get started? Explore Xfinity Internet plans or access Xfinity Shield in the Xfinity app and take greater control of your connected home.
