- Xfinity, a Comcast-Brand, has introduced a new feature called Wi-Fi Motion
- It lets an XFinity router and up to three Wi-Fi-connected devices create a movement detection system
- The feature is not available to everyone but some users already have potential concerns about privacy
Having a router that acts as a movement detector was not on our bingo card in 2025, and yet we are here. XFinity of Comcast has introduced Wi-Fi Motion, a feature that allows you to turn your printer, your smart fridge or your TV among other-to-a movement detector. But is it really a good thing?
Given that we are constantly connected to the Internet these days, many of us assume that our devices have a kind of baseline of knowledge of our daily lives and habits.
We have some of Best Smartwatches Tracking our sleep, exercise and heartbeat. As another example, Microsoft’s recallNow in preview, will go through our files to make our lives easier. In the meantime, AI assistants can already read our E emails and summarize them for us. Privacy is a commodity that we run out of at a fast pace.
In a world like this one does not sound so bad to have movement detection features in our homes. But some users are concerned about the potential disadvantages of XFinity’s Wi-Fi movement-here is what you need to know.
How does XFinity’s Wi-Fi movement work?
As XFinity describes, Wi-Fi Motion connects your compatible XFinity Gateway (either XB8 or Technicolor XB7 CGM4981COM) to up to three eligible, always-on, stationary devices. So think about things like printers or smart refrigerators instead of smartphones and tablets. The feature is in early access and is only available to select customers right now.
The feature is switched off by default, but once activated, it transforms your router and these three devices into a movement detection system. This creates an oval shaped area with Wi-Fi coverage, and everything that disturbs 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 between each other.
Let’s say this web of Wi-Fi signals detects movement-what then? XFinity allows you to finish what happens, but the long story is that you get a review (see below), indicating that movement has been discovered. This technique works across different rooms and floors, but it can’t figure out where the movement took place and it will just tell you which device discovered it.
You can choose the type of movement you are notified. For example, it is possible to ignore pets under 40 pounds, saving you from meaningless pings every time your dog crosses the room.
As noticed by CygenerwsXFinity can’t always tell the difference between a big pet and a toddler. You can choose different sensitivity levels to minimize messages, and you can also create warnings to only get rid of at certain times of the day.
On paper, this sounds neat – an extra security system for your home with no extra charge. However, some users are understandably concerned about privacy.
Why are some users worried about privacy?
Constantly tracked in your own home can make you feel uneasy, so for those of you who find this idea a little creepy, you’re not alone. But these concerns about privacy, which regularly shared by users since the Wi-Fi movement were first announced, the stem largely from XFinity’s own description of the feature.
While Comcast notes that Wi-Fi movement “is not a home security service and is not professionally monitored,” the company will still generate and store data related to movement detection in your home. Comcast can also freely notify you to share this data with third parties if requested as part of an investigation, procedure or judicial decision or subpoena.
This implies that Comcast could tell law enforcement whether you were at home at a certain time, and some users on Hacker News Forums were not huge fans of it. However, others point out that your ISP already has this kind of information thanks to internet use and telephone pinger, even when not in use.
In addition to sharing data with third parties, motion detection could open the door to a whole new range of cyber security threats. If the data falls into the wrong hands, a lot of sensitive information can potentially leak out, including data about when you’re at home and when you’re not.
The effect of Wi-Fi movement is unclear at this time. If you are an XFinity user, you can just skip the feature and easily avoid potential risks.
Still, this new feature, even though it is innovative, invites a greater debate on privacy, when exactly is enough and how much data we are all willing to share with third parties. It will certainly leave some people struggling to choose between extra home security and give up a little more privacy, so we are interested in seeing how it develops from here.
