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How does Advanced Security protect you?
Advanced Security provides protection against malicious sites, monitors your device activity in real time, alerts you of suspicious activity that could compromise your network, and enables you to remotely suspend Internet access to unknown devices.
When a threat is intercepted by Advanced Security, it is automatically blocked and a notification is sent to you (if the feature is enabled). Details are then added to the Advanced Security dashboard in the Connection section of the Helix Fi app.
Important: The Advanced Security feature does not replace anti-virus software.
Advanced Security is included with all Helix Internet plans. You’re not sure you have enabled it in the Helix Fi app when you set up your service? We recommend that you do so now in order to take advantage of this feature that can save you a lot of trouble.
Activate the Advanced Security feature
- In the Helix Fi app Overview section, tap Secure your network.
- Follow the instructions.
What threats are controlled by Advanced Security?
Good to know
The Advanced Security feature addresses five types of threats:
- Visiting a suspicious site: A device connected to your network visits a potentially dangerous website that may contain malware or spyware, for example.
- Unauthorized access: An external device attempts to access devices connected to your network.
- IP address reputation: An external device from a known malevolent source attempts to access devices connected to your network.
- Targeted network attack: A device connected to your network was compromised and infected with a virus or malware.
- Suspicious activity: A device deviates from its normal behaviour. For example, it communicates with an IP address that it doesn’t normally interact with.
Real-time notifications
When a threat is detected, the Advanced Security feature automatically blocks it and sends you a notification to inform you and provide you with tips on how to correct the situation. Here are some examples of notifications:
- Helix Fi Advanced Security Enabled: Your network is now fully protected.
- Threat Blocked: Helix Fi Advanced Security blocked a potential threat on iPhone 7 Stella. No action is needed.
- Please Take Action: Helix Fi Advanced Security blocked a threat on Technicolor Device to protect your home network, but additional action is needed.
Enabling notifications
- Access the Account section via the icon at the top left of the Overview screen.
- In the Notifications section, click on Notification Preferences.
- Select the types of notifications you would like to receive.
A dashboard to group the alerts
The Advanced Security dashboard is available in the Helix Fi application’s Connection section. It gives you a detailed description of the threats detected on your devices over the previous 14 days and tells you whether you need to act or not.
Alerts are presented in two categories:
- No action required: Some detected threats do not require any action, but you will be notified nonetheless. For example, if a device from your network visited a suspicious site, you can simply see the details of the event by selecting that device from the dashboard.
- Action required: If detected threats require action from you, such as a targeted network attack or unauthorized access, select the device concerned to identify the cause of the problem and take action to correct the situation.
Correcting problems
When you select a device that poses a threat, you get information about the type of threat and whether you need to act. Select Correct the problem to see the proposed solution.
Depending on the type of threat, the following solutions may be proposed:
- Restart the device
- Pause the device
- Update the device’s software
Allow remote access
In the case of a threat of unauthorized access, you have the option of granting remote access to people or devices you trust.
Once granted, this access will only be valid for:
- The device in question
- The port selected using a specific IP address
- A 30-day period
- Open the Helix Fi application’s Connection section and select the device concerned.
- Access the device’s threat history and manage the access you wish to allow.
Frequently asked questions about Advanced Security
Since Advanced Security monitors the activity of all your devices in real time, it is quite normal that you receive several alerts per day. This allows you to act preventively.
It is important to combine the two, as anti-virus software not only inspects the content of communications, but also detects viruses embedded in emails and trusted sources, and removes viruses found.
By going to the Overview section of the Helix Fi app on your phone.
It’s not recommended that you deactivate the Advanced Security, as you will lose the protection on all your devices and stop receiving notifications of detected threats. Nonetheless, here is how you deactivate it:
- Access the Account section of the Helix Fi app via the icon in the upper left corner of the Overview tab screen and scroll down to the More Options heading.
- Select Helix Fi Advanced Security, select Deactivate or Activate and follow the instructions.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) feature such as iCloud Private Relay, offered by Apple to allow anonymous browsing by protecting your data and location, can compromise the proper functioning of the Helix Fi Advanced Security feature.
Because your browsing requests are encrypted by iCloud Private Relay as soon as they leave your device, the Advanced Security feature is no longer able to detect threats and effectively protect you by blocking them. We recommend that you disable iCloud Private Relay or use a browser other than Safari to enjoy fully secure browsing.