Your Wi-Fi Router Is About to Become a Silent Security Guard

For generations, ADT has meant window decals and wall-mounted keypads. But in a quiet announcement last June, the security giant signaled a future where your home’s internet signal is the primary sentry. ADT is partnering with tech firm Origin Wireless AI to deploy a system that uses ordinary Wi-Fi to detect motion, presence, and even breathing—no cameras or physical sensors required.

The technology, called ADT Wi-Fi Motion Sensing, analyzes the subtle disruptions people cause as they move through a field of radio waves. It can, in theory, tell a pet from a person, or a ceiling fan from an intruder. The initial goal is whole-home awareness: knowing if someone is present, where they are, and if movement occurs when the house is supposed to be empty.

This move comes as ADT faces stiff competition from tech companies selling simpler, app-based security gear. Wi-Fi sensing offers a potential edge—a comprehensive security layer without installing dozens of individual devices. A router and a few access points could do the work of an entire sensor network.

Yet, significant questions remain. The system creates a detailed map of daily life—who is in which room and when—raising immediate privacy concerns. ADT states data will be processed locally where possible and governed by existing policies, but those policies already allow broad data sharing for marketing.

ADT isn’t alone. Amazon and chipmakers like Qualcomm are exploring similar tech. ADT’s differentiator is its 24/7 professional monitoring; a disturbance could trigger a call from a human operator, not just a phone alert.

Looking ahead, the bigger application may be health monitoring. The passive ability to detect falls or track sleep patterns could be transformative for elderly care, a market ADT already serves. The company plans a phased rollout, with wider availability expected this year. The technology is advancing quickly. Now, ADT must convince customers it can be trusted.