Antivirus company Bitdefender unveiled the second generation of its Bitdefender Box at the CES 2017: Bitdefender Box 2. The next-gen device grabbed the attention of both household security experts and ordinary homeowners right away. The main highlight is its upgraded specs that promise stronger and tighter protection. It’s not for everybody, but it can be an excellent investment. For those who want to take advantage of the Internet of Things and create the ultimate smart home, this is a great device.
Do I really need to protect my smart home?
The short answer: yes, you do. Cyber criminals have now realized that many people are buying smart gadgets for their house or apartment. They also know that not everyone is taking the right steps to secure them. This makes smart home networks a prime target of attackers. Malicious individuals can use unprotected devices to steal users’ private information and empty their bank accounts. They can even use smart security cameras to spy on homeowners and learn their daily routine. It is not a stretch to say that the information they gleaned will be used to burglarize a property. So, whether you’re planning to replace all your appliances with smart ones or simply buy a couple of new gadgets, you’ll want to get a device that safeguards your home network and keeps cybercriminals away.
What does the next-gen Bitdefender Box do?
The Bitdefender Box V2 is a Wi-Fi router and a security appliance rolled into one. You can use it as a supplement to your existing router. Although, it can perform well on its own. The box continuously does in-depth scans of your network to detect any abnormalities. It will then alert you if there are any suspicious activities going on. It will even give tips on how to resolve these issues. This makes it difficult for attackers to enter your home network and take over your devices.
Is it really better than the old Bitdefender Box?
In terms of specs and performance, the new Bitdefender Box is light-years ahead of the first-generation device. It comes with a 1.2GHz Dual-Core ARM Cortex A9 CPU. It also hs 1GB of DDR3 RAM and 4GB of flash storage. The older version, on the other hand, has a single-core 400-MHz MIPS-based CPU. It only has 64MB of RAM and a tiny 16MB flash storage, as well.
The first-gen Bitdefender Box scans your devices for vulnerabilities and prevents them from accessing malicious websites. In short, it acts like a basic anti-malware appliance. Unfortunately, this is no longer enough in today’s online environment. After all, cybercriminals have gotten smarter. They are now using stealthier ways to attack unsuspecting people.
The Bitdefender Box V2 provides better protection. It inspects all your network traffic, looks out for any type of intrusions, and blocks connections to suspicious sites. The box also checks the passwords used in your devices. It will then prompt you to change them if you’re still using default passwords. It even gives you the ability to block new, unwanted gadgets that try to connect to your network.
The Bitdefender Box V2 is better than its older sibling in terms of design, too. The next-gen version measures 7.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches. Its slim cylindrical shape makes it look like a large Bluetooth speaker. The old Bitdefender Box, on the other hand, is a squat square-shaped device. In fact, it looks like a twin of the Apple TV. Both of these security appliances come with LEDs that emit a blue glow when there are no issues. They alert you with a red glow if a problem has been detected in your network.
What are my other options?
Aside from the second-gen Bitdefender Box, you can opt for the Norton Core router. It’s offered by well-known antivirus company Symantec and was also unveiled during CES 2017. It closely inspects both encrypted and unencrypted traffic. Additionally, it detects network intrusions and looks out for viruses and other types of malware. It also automatically downloads and installs the latest updates for its own software. This means it runs on the latest security patches and provides excellent network protection.
In terms of design, the Norton Core has a more eye-catching look than the Bitdefender Box V2. It mimics the design of geodesic domes, which makes it look like a stylishly modern home decoration. According to Symantec, they specifically chose this design since it prompts homeowners to display the Norton Core out in the open. That allows the unit to send a strong Wi-Fi signal to all smart home appliances.
When can I get the Bitdefender V2?
If you want to give the second-generation Bitdefender Box a try, you’ll need to wait until the end of 2017. Bitdefender has not announced how much the device will cost yet. But PC World reports that it will probably retail at $199. You might also need to pay an additional $99 annual service subscription fee. This is the same price paid by those who own the current Bitdefender Box model. The subscription provides you with Bitdefender’s own antivirus software called Total Security. It also comes with the Bitdefender Private Line VPN service, which protects your mobile devices when they connect with unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks when you leave the house.
