Essential Security: What is it and how can I use it?

Stay safe online with Essential Security – the new name for Virgin Media Web Safe – and get the important security tools you need already built into your home WiFi network.

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What does Virgin Media Essential Security do?

Essential Security is a built-in solution that works on all your devices. It looks out for dodgy websites and stops your devices from downloading anything malicious. By doing that, your family can surf to the max – safe in the knowledge that we’ve got your backs. The best bit? Because it’s built into your home WiFi network already, you get it at no extra cost and don’t have to lift a finger.

Blocks hackers and harmful content

🔒 Our base layer of protection is here to give you peace of mind when browsing online by protecting you and your devices from petty scams and persistent hackers. Plus, if there are any nasties already on your devices, Essential Security will ensure none of your data is shared with anyone outside of your network – so long as you’re connected.

Provides adjustable parental controls

🧡 Stop kids from accessing stuff they shouldn’t by setting timers to block out harmful content during certain hours of the day and night or choosing specific website categories to block altogether – including topics like drugs, crime and any others you consider inappropriate for your children. Learn more about our parental controls.

Offers built-in protection

🤝 Our online security tools are available at no extra cost with all our broadband packages. Built-in and ready to go, Essential Security is always turned ‘On’ for our customers – unless you’ve asked us otherwise. This means automatic protection for every device connected to your home WiFi network without have having to do anything – so you’re always covered.

How to use Essential Security?

One of the best things about Essential Security is that it’s easy to use. The tools are already set up for you – all you need to do is to make sure it’s switched on by logging into My Virgin Media and going to Account Settings > Online Security.

Essential Security is automatically turned ‘On’ by default to ensure the safety of you and your family online. If you’re looking to customise your settings, you can do that from your My Virgin Media account too.

How to turn Essential Security on or off?

Essential Security is built-in and set up to work without you needing to do a thing. But we understand there may be situations where you don’t need it – in this case, you can opt to turn ‘Off’ Essential Security if you want. Simply go to your My Virgin Media account, then Account Settings > Online Security. From there you’ll have the option to turn on and off the settings you want.

Just remember that turning Essential Security ‘Off’ leaves your devices vulnerable to malicious and fraudulent content

Essential Security FAQs

Yes – you can change your Essential Security settings using the Online Security option under Account Settings in My Virgin Media.

No – any changes to your Essential Security settings can only be made within My Virgin Media. This includes whether you decide to turn it off.

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No – Essential Security is the new name for our Web Safe security solution. Virgin Media Internet Security is now being called Advanced Security, which is an add-on available for £3 a month.

Essential Security works with any device connected to your home network, to block scam websites, those with viruses or sites with unsuitable content. Advanced Security is our new name for Virgin Media Internet Security. Advanced Security works by scanning your device for all kinds of viruses, spyware and other shady files that can creep onto your devices – and wipes them out at the touch of a button. Advanced Security also offers parental controls that can be customised for each child and online banking protection – all manged via an easy to use app. See Advanced Security for more details.

It’s important to remember that Essential Security protects all your devices connected to your home network, only while connected to your home network. On the other hand, Advanced security protects the device it’s installed on, wherever you are in the world. For all-round protection, we recommend using Advanced Security and Essential Security

Essential Security lets you block sites that you consider unsuitable for your family or children. You can customise your settings by clicking on the Categories, Sites or Timer filters on your account.

From here, you can select the level of protection you need.

  1. Categories lets you block or allow additional site categories – such as gambling, weapons, alcohol and tobacco, social media and more.

  2. Sites lets you tell us which websites you want to allow as an exception to a blocked site category. You can also use this to block specific websites you feel are unsuitable.

  3. Timer puts you in control of when you want Essential Security to be active. Set the date and time you wish to deactivate it. Any category or site restrictions will be temporarily suspended within that time frame.

    When you activate parental controls these websites categories will always be blocked: Pornography, Child Abuse, Violence, Crime, Hate, Drugs, Hacking, Suicide and Self-harm, Address Hiding.

    When you choose to block a site, or when your timer reactivates your block settings, you may have to restart your device before the site or category is blocked.

    To see a breakdown of the site categories, please visit parental controls for internet use.

If you’ve activated any of the Essential Security features, when anyone connected to your broadband network tries to access a site that’s been determined to be inappropriate or blacklisted – they’ll be notified with a message explaining why the site is blocked.

If there’s a website that can be accessed that you believe should be blocked as part of a category, you can report it through My Virgin Media:

  1. Sign in

  2. Select Account Settings

  3. Select Online Security

  4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Report a Website

If a website is blocked and you don’t think it should be, you can do something about it. If this happens, a blocking page will show. Simply click on the ‘Let us know’ link and fill out the following form. This will then be sent to our team for review, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

You can also add an exception to the additional categories via the whitelist or blocklist sections. However, if these websites conflict with categories you’ve blocked (e.g. ‘Gambling’) or Virgin Media’s global whitelist, you will not be able to override those settings.

We’ll send you an email when you change any of your Essential Security settings. This is to make sure that if a change was made accidentally or without the account holder’s knowledge, that the account holder is notified.

You can change your settings at any time. Simply sign into your My Virgin Media account, go to Account Settings and then Online Security.

Essential Security settings only apply to your broadband connection and won’t change any of your TV Go or TiVo parental control settings.

Your Essential Security only protects you when you’re at home and connected to your broadband. If a friend has Virgin Media Broadband and their Essential Security is switched on, you’ll be protected while connected to their broadband.

For complete protection on your favourite devices, we recommend installing Advanced Security.

Essential Security will block HTTPS websites if they fall in your blocked websites list or if the related website category is blocked.

When an HTTPS site is blocked, you will receive a normal browser error message saying it can’t connect to the webpage, instead of our Essential Security blocked message. For example, if a social networking site is blocked on your Essential Security settings, then any secure link associated with a social media site will take you to an error page.

You won’t need to block the HTTPS version of a site if you’ve already chosen to block the main site through your Essential Security settings.

Our online security measures help give your family the digital freedom to explore, develop, progress and play online, within the boundaries you choose to set.

We understand the concern that can come from allowing your child to use the internet, which is why we put together some top tips for mums and dads. Browse the helpful resources we have available, including Switched on Families – an online platform and interactive guide to keep parents informed and confident about their choices for managing their home internet.

Blocks access to harmful websites, such scam or phishing websites and those with viruses.

Essential Security gives you control over the content you want seen in your home by letting the account holder restrict access to unsuitable content such as pornography, hate, crime, drugs, violence, self-harm or suicide. You can customise your settings for your family by specifying the categories, websites or times you want to filter..

Yes. As well as providing protection for all the devices on your home network 24/7, Essential Security is automatically updated. While this provides the most effective protection, it’s not possible to guarantee 100% protection due to the ever-changing nature of internet threats.

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