If you're anything like us, your home is probably full of connected gadgets and gizmos. As much fun as all that can be, every time you connect a new Internet of Things device it brings its own security risks and possible entry points. To make sure hackers can't divide and conquer your home network, the new Bitdefender BOX rolls all the loose threads into one secure … well, box.
The Bitdefender BOX can team up with your existing modem or router, or if you're not that attached to your ISP-provided lemon, it can fill the function all by itself. This second generation Bitdefender BOX packs some serious extra grunt over the previous model, boasting a 1.2 GHz Dual Core processor, 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of flash memory.
Once it's hooked up to your home network and linked through the app, the Bitdefender BOX gets to work. The system will block access to any website flagged as malicious in the Bitdefender cloud database, and will protect sensitive data like credit card numbers from being transmitted over unencrypted connections.
Even an item as innocent as a smart lightbulb could be a potential gateway into your network, and the wider your household Internet-of-Things becomes, the harder it is to keep track of what's meant to be there. Bitdefender BOX also takes advantage of the company's free IOT scanner, which keeps a watchful eye out for external attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in any device in the house. To stay on top of the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, Home Scanner will also continuously scan devices and the network for potential flaws.
Not all issues are so malicious though, and the Bitdefender BOX can give you more day-to-day control over your network and household internet activity. All new devices trying to gain access will need to be approved through the Bitdefender app, meaning the neighbors or passersby can't log in and drain your data allowance. Advanced parental controls can let you manage the kids' screen time, and keep impressionable young eyes away from some of the seedier corners of the web.
The Bitdefender app can even protect your devices when you're out and about. Public Wi-Fi or mobile networks can be hotspots for unsavory characters, and the Bitdefender app will prevent those threats from following you home.
Best of all, the BOX can handle data speeds of up to 1 Gbps, meaning all that security won't come at the cost of snail-pace internet.
Turn your home into a virtual Fort Knox with the new Bitdefender BOX. It's available now for US$199, which includes a one-year subscription to the Bitdefender Total Security 2018 platform.