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Virgin Media Essential Security built into your home network, at no extra cost
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Stay safe online with important, always-on security tools built into your home network, at no extra cost
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 23 July 2025
The chances are that most of us have sat through a thousand online training sessions at work about how to stay vigilant online. And while we have some fundamental questions for whatever company does these online lessons (mainly screaming: “why” and “seriously, why?”), it has never been more important to stay safe.
With our reliance on connectivity becoming greater than ever and online scam attempts becoming increasingly hard to spot, all this scam spotting can quickly turn into a full-time job. But it shouldn’t be.
That’s why we’re going the extra mile and why all Virgin Media customers with a broadband package can get Essential Security cover. It’s built into our broadband network at no extra cost, so you don’t need to lift a finger when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones.
With content filtering, data protection, parental controls and your devices protected, it’s a smart cybersecurity service that’s included with all our broadband packages as standard.
If you want an enhanced antivirus offering, you can also choose to take our Advanced Security, which protects an unlimited number of devices for just £3 per month (first three months free) or £30 a year.
Read on to find out all you need to know about Essential Security and how it can keep you protected.
What is Virgin Media Essential Security?
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Virgin Media Essential Security is always on guard, picking up scam websites and warning you before they can do any harm. We’ve built Essential Security right into our network – so it’s always switched on, seeking out scam websites. If it spots anything suspicious, it’ll kick into action – warning you before you access or download anything malicious.
There are plenty of dangers lurking on the web, from scammers to malware, and it can be tricky to stay on top of them all – so let Virgin Media Essential Security do the hard work for you. It even allows you to set parental controls so you can keep the whole family safe online. So you can browse to the max, knowing we’ve got your backs.
What benefits do you get with Virgin Media Essential Security?
When you’re a Virgin Media customer with a broadband package, you get Essential Security at no extra cost.
Here’s what it does for you:
Send hackers packing. Whether it’s viruses posing as regular downloads, scammers trying to steal your identity or malicious content popping up when your guard is down, we’ll let you know if you try to access a dangerous website – so you can get away before any damage is done.
Keeping personal details, personal. If there are any nasties already on your devices, our tool will make sure none of your data is shared with anyone outside your network for as long as you’re connected to your home WiFi.
Parental controls at your fingertips. Essential Security slots straight into your home life, so you and the kids can enjoy all the stuff you love on the internet in a safer, healthier way. No more scam websites or unsuitable content – just head to your My Virgin Media account to customise what to block and when.
The best part? It comes at no extra cost with all our broadband packs. It’s all set up for you too. Simply connect to your home WiFi and use your devices as you usually would. It’s available on all devices connected to your home WiFi network.
You can find out more about Essential Security in our FAQs.
Can you disable Virgin Media Essential Security?
While we’d recommend keeping Essential Security active, the choice to use Essential Security is up to you, and there may be situations where you don’t need it. If you want to turn it off again, you can do so whenever you like. Just sign in to My Virgin Media and change your settings by going to Account Settings > Online Security.
Read on to learn more about Essential Security. Plus, if you need more security for your devices on the move, find out about our award-winning Virgin Media Advanced Security.
How do I ensure my WiFi is secure?
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Most common cyber threats are relatively unsophisticated – but they still have the potential to devastate lives. Similarly, most cyber-attacks succeed due to human error. This includes “active” errors like opening malicious email attachments, or “passive errors” such as using weak passwords.
Here are three top tips to help you stay safe while online.
Ensure you set a strong and unique password to avoid unintentionally putting your devices and personal information at risk. Research suggests that the UK’s most common password is “password”, so be a little more creative and try using a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols as well as avoiding using the same password across your devices and accounts. It’s also best to avoid using personal information like names, addresses and birthdays as these can be predictable.
If a hacker did correctly guess a password, having two-factor authentication set up (i.e. a facial recognition or a text message code) will help to prevent them from accessing further information so it’s vital to add this extra level of security.
According to the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), more than half of UK households now have a smart TV and voice assistant such as Alexa*****, meaning it’s becoming more common for cyber-criminals to attempt accessing smart household items and stealing private data. Try to keep track of the devices connected to your home broadband network and the level of security you have on these devices.
Visit our Tech and Connectivity hub for broadband and WiFi tips, tricks and user guides
How to upgrade to Virgin Media Advanced Security
Kick things up a notch with our award-winning Advanced Security add-on for £3 a month. It’s packed with premium features that’ll keep you safe on as many devices as you need – even when you’re not connected to your home WiFi. Sign up here for Virgin Media Advanced Security to start your no-commitment three-month trial today. No bank or credit card details are required for the trial. Then download it on all your online devices to get going.
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Virgin Media Advanced Security: New Virgin Media Advanced Security customers only. Registration required. One subscription per Virgin Media customer. Not available on BlackBerry. Unlimited devices, after the first 15 devices will need to be registered via F-Secure. £3 per month or annual subscription for £30 after trial period. See here for full details. https://www.f-secure.com/en/legal/terms
