Your computers and mobile devices are already protected by an antivirus? That's great, but it’s also important to protect your other Internet-connected devices (smart objects such as light bulbs, thermostats, plugs, and cameras, for example). Advanced Security, included in all Helix Internet plans, provides this type of protection. All you have to do is enable it from the Helix Fi app!
Never used the Helix Fi app before? Find out how to download and connect to it.
Activate the Advanced Security feature
- In the Home section of the Helix Fi app, tap the Advanced Security box.
- Follow the instructions.
Once the steps are completed, a thumbnail in the Home section will indicate that Advanced Security is enabled.
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.
Real-life example of protection
If a hacker manages to use your Wi-Fi-connected security camera to access your personal data, such as the video stream itself, Advanced Security will detect the abnormal activity of the camera, pause its Wi-Fi access, and notify you.
Important: The Advanced Security feature does not replace anti-virus software.
What threats are controlled by Advanced Security?
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.
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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.
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.
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 can compromise the proper functioning of the Helix Fi Advanced Security feature. More details.
- Select a device that poses a threat to get information about the type of threat detected 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
In the case of a threat of unauthorized access, you have the option of granting remote access to people or devices you trust.
- 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.
- The device in question
- The port selected using a specific IP address
- A 30-day period
Other Internet access management options with Helix
Several other tools are available to ensure sound use of the Internet at home.
