Eero’s lineup of routers have gained support for Apple’s HomeKit protocol, eight months after Apple announced Amazon-owned Eero as one of the companies adding HomeKit support back in June at WWDC.
Users who update any Eero, Eero Pro, or Eero Beacon router running the eeroOS 3.18.0 update or later wlll now about added to the Home app via a setup process in the Eero app.
HomeKit for routers is a feature that was added in iOS 13, and it is designed to firewall off smart home devices for a more secure HomeKit experience. With HomeKit for routers, smart home products are not able to communicate outside the home without user permission, so if one HomeKit device becomes compromised, others remain safe.
Eero’s other security profiles are outlined as follows:
– Automatic: Allows an accessory to communicate to the devices and services approved by its manufacturer, preventing access by unauthorized services.
– Restrict to Home: Allows an accessory to communicate only to HomeKit on your Apple devices. You will be able to manage your accessories through the Home app, but this may reduce some functionality, such as firmware updates.
– No restriction: Allows an accessory to communicate with every device in your home, and any website or service on the internet, much like other devices on your home network.
Apple has recommended that after HomeKit-connected routers are added to a HomeKit setup, remove the devices and re-add them to your setup to ensure secure connections.
Eero is the first router manufacturer to add support for HomeKit to its devices, but HomeKit support is also coming to Linksys and Charter/Spectrum routers.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via MacRumors and blog.eero.com