Virgin Media is trialling a free security upgrade for its Hub 5 Wi-Fi router, which can be enabled in settings
Not every Wi-Fi router issued by Virgin Media is compatible with the new security feature
Virgin Media is testing a free security upgrade to protect you from cybercriminals.
With more connected devices filling our homes — from video doorbells to wireless speakers — there is an ever-increasing number of gadgets that can be leveraged by hackers, so iron-clad security is more important than ever. Dubbed Smart Security, the free upgrade will monitor your network in real-time, sending an alert when it detects unusual behaviour.
Virgin Media is trialling the feature with its Hub 5 kit, which is the flagship Wi-Fi router available from the provider. Included as standard with all Gig1 broadband plans, Hub 5 packs Wi-Fi 6 (the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, with improvements to speed and reliability) and is built from 100% recycled plastics.
The new addition is separate from Virgin Media's Internet Security suite, which promises to detect and remove viruses, malware, ransomware and spyware designed to delete your files and steal your money. It's powered by antivirus firm F-Secure and costs an extra £30 per year.
Smart Security only monitors connected devices like doorbells, cameras, Wi-Fi-connected thermostats and other smart home kit — so you're out of luck if you want to use the new functionality to check a suspicious attachement to an email. If your Hub 5 router is eligible to take part in the trial, you can activate it via the Virgin Media Connect app.
You can manage and protect all of your Wi-Fi-connected devices from the newly added Smart Security dashboard.
Virgin Media decided to implement the new security feature after research from Compare the Market revealed the impact of smart home devices on property prices.
According to the study, 51% of Brits are willing to pay as much as £2,500 more for a property with smart home gadgets installed. With demand for connected home gadgets at an all-time high, it’s estimated there will be as many as 34.8 million smart tech users across households in 2028 — making it increasingly important to future-proof your security.
Virgin Media isn't the only broadband supplier that offers advanced security for its customers.
BT includes two security packages with all broadband plans; Web Protect, which is designed to warn you about spyware and adware when you're about to visit a potentially harmful website — either at home or out using a BT Wi-Fi hotspot; and Virus Protect, which identifies malware and phishing scams on your Mac or PC.
Depending on your broadband plan, BT will supply either two or 15 licences for its BT Virus Protect feature, which is powered by technology from antivirus firm Norton. If you've been sent two and want to upgrade, it'll cost £5.21 per month.
Meanwhile, Sky includes its Broadband Shield technology for free with all plans. It works on any device connected to your Wi-Fi router and is designed to prevent you from stumbling across viruses, phishing or malware-infected sites. It can also filter explicit results on Google and Bing to shield younger members of the household from explicit material.
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Like Virgin Media, TalkTalk relies on antivirus provider F-Secure to shield its customers.
Dubbed SuperSafe, it costs an extra £5 per month and can be used across 10 devices simultaneously. TalkTalk's SuperSafe subscription also arrives with a Password Manager that keeps passwords secure and synchronised across all of your devices.
