Belkin's Linksys brand has confirmed that it is now rolling out support for HomeKit integration for users of the Linksys Velop tri-band mesh router. This gives Velop users additional security controls for smart home accessories connected via HomeKit.

The benefits of HomeKit-enabled routers are mostly related to additional security features, including the ability to lock down accessories to prevent them from accessing your entire network. Apple describes it as the ability "to improve security by monitoring the network activity of your home accessories and preventing unsafe connections".

In the Home app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, you can adjust the connection security for each HomeKit accessory. The safest option is to make sure your HomeKit accessories can just Interact with HomeKit through your Apple devices. Here's how Apple explains the options:

• Limit to home: The safest. Your accessories can only interact with HomeKit through your Apple devices. The accessory won't connect to the internet or local devices, so third-party services like firmware updates may be blocked.
• Automatically: Standard security. Your accessories can communicate with HomeKit and the connections recommended by the manufacturer.
• No restriction: Least sure. This setting bypasses the secure router and allows your accessory to interact with any device on your network or internet-based service.

Amazon's Eero was the first network company to add support for HomeKit routers and bring the feature to the Eero and Eero Pro systems. Linksys was touted as a partner for HomeKit router functionality when Apple announced the platform and WWDC 2019. As a result, it has been a long time coming for Linksys Velop users to get started today.

The full Linksys press release can be found below. If you are using the Velop tri-band mesh routers, you can check for the HomeKit software update in the Linksys app for iOS. Linksys says this will be a "gradual rollout" and that it is slowly being rolled out to a "limited number of US users" to begin with.

Linksys Velop Tri-Band Mesh Routers now support Apple HomeKit for added security

A free software update provides more secure management of smart home accessories connected to Linksys Velop routers

LOS ANGELES - September 22, 2020 - Linksys, the Connected Home division within Belkin International and Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) (HK: 6088), today announced HomeKit support for its Linksys Velop tri-band mesh routers and even offers customers more privacy and security for their smart home accessories.

With the Home app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, Linksys Velop Tri-Band Mesh Router customers can manage secure access to their HomeKit-enabled accessories and control how each accessory can communicate at home and over the Internet. With HomeKit support, Linksys Velop tri-band mesh routers can use HomeKit accessories as a firewall preventing them from communicating with other Wi-Fi devices connected to the home network and untrusted services over the Internet.

“At a time when much of the world continues to work, live and learn from home, we are pleased to offer our customers an easy way to improve the security of their Linksys Velop tri-band routers with HomeKit to "said Matthew Keasler, Linksys senior global product manager." "These routers are powered by our Intelligent Mesh technology, so we can offer users additional benefits over time such as software security, health and wellness services like Linksys Shield, Linksys Aware and more."

Linksys customers can take advantage of these additional security and privacy features available through HomeKit with a free software update for their Velop tri-band mesh routers, which will soon be available in the Velop app for iOS and iPadOS . This feature will initially be available to a limited number of Velop Tri-Band users in the US and later in a gradual roll-out in most countries worldwide. The security settings for all HomeKit accessories are available in the Apple Home app on iPhone and iPad.

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