This article explains the differences between secure and open Xfinity WiFi network connections.
For more details, see Xfinity WiFi hotspots.
Secure vs. open Xfinity WiFi hotspots
The Xfinity WiFi network uses two SSIDs (network names) for user device connections.
- The first SSID is called xfinitywifi and is open for public use.
- The second is called XFINITY or Xfinity Mobile and is used to provide secure, encrypted connections to customers who have downloaded and installed the Xfinity WiFi secure profile on their device(s).
We recommend that users install the Xfinity WiFi secure profile to automatically connect to the secure XFINITY or Xfinity Mobile SSID. Users can download the Xfinity app for iOS or Android (version 4.4 or higher) devices, or by visiting wifi.xfinity.com/#app.
Note: The secure profile is already available on all Xfinity Mobile devices. Customers don’t need to download the Xfinity app to connect to the XFINITY or Xfinity Mobile network.
On the open SSID, Xfinity WiFi supports 128-bit encryption at sign-in, similar to the encryption used by financial services apps and websites. Users of open hotspots should always be mindful of what private information and data they expose while connected. We recommend that users look for indicators such as secure sockets layer (SSL), secure HTTP (https://) and certificate warnings to increase their protection while connecting via open hotspots.
Secure Xfinity WiFi, on the other hand, will encrypt the traffic passing between a user's device and the hotspot. This encryption continuously scrambles and decodes the traffic, helping to protect users from the risk of wireless eavesdropping.
Secure Xfinity WiFi also protects users by using a certificate to validate that the device is connecting to a genuine Xfinity WiFi hotspot. Users should always be wary if a certificate error is presented on their devices, as it could indicate that a potential risk is present.
Additional information
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