Apple already announced HomeKit support for routers at WWDC 2019 (World Wide Developer Conference). Now the company has published a support document that shows how it works and the setup process.
Apple has released a new support document titled “Using routers secured with HomeKit“. For the first time, the company offers insight into how HomeKit routers work and the setup process. The introduction states:
Protect your home devices further by controlling which services and devices they communicate with on your home Wi-Fi network and over the Internet.
Individualize connection security
HomeKit routers are designed to provide greater security overall and act as a kind of firewall for individual HomeKit devices. Users can use the Home app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as well as their Mac to individually set the connection security for each HomeKit accessory - explains Apple. The safest option is to only access it from your own Apple device. There are three options in total, however. Apple describes these as follows:
Restriction to house: Most secure. Your accessory can only interact with HomeKit through your Apple devices. The accessory does not connect to the internet or local devices, so third-party services such as firmware updates could be blocked.
Automatically: Standard security. Your accessory can communicate with HomeKit and the connections recommended by its manufacturer.
No restriction: Least secure. This setting bypasses the secure router and allows your accessory to interact with any device on your network or Internet-based service.
Setup process requires complete reconfiguration
While Apple is convincing with the security aspect, the company should have rethought the setup process. As can be seen from the document, users have to reset and re-set up all their HomeKit accessories - for some, this may be a lot of work. This is what the support document says under the section "Setting up your secure router":
After setup, add your HomeKit accessories to the Home app. If you've already added Wi-Fi HomeKit accessories to the Home app, remove them, reset them, then add them back to the Home app for a more secure connection.
Essentially, this means that anyone who wants to integrate a router with HomeKit support will have to reconfigure the entire HomeKit setup. But by the time the first HomeKit routers are available, Apple may be able to revise the setup process. (Photo by Jakub Jirsak / Bigstockphoto)
