News about hacking and malware are everywhere these days. That’s why consumers are becoming more particular about the security and privacy of their internet connection and devices. It seems tech companies are taking advantage of this by launching products intended to provide online users more secure networks.
Take for example the Luma Guardian. This is a recently launched product from the router company, Luma. It is a subscription service that will give you “the world’s first personal IT team” in your own home. And it is highly affordable – only $5 a month for the first year. For this fee, you get a range of IT services that help you manage your home network’s security, privacy, and performance. You will also have on-demand tech support. Interested consumers can try the 30-day free trial.
“We invented Luma Guardian because we want to bring the experience to every household of having a personal IT team on demand at an affordable cost,” said Paul Judge, the Co-Founder and CEO of Luma. “Large businesses have full-time IT teams to manage their networks, protect their privacy, guard against hackers, and optimize speed and bandwidth. The home network is now as complex as a business network, so consumers need an IT person to keep all their technology connected and secure.”
What You Get with the Luma Guardian Subscription
- With the touch of a button in the Luma app, you can activate Stealth Mode. This will turn on a VPN to encrypt web traffic from all devices connected to your home network.
- Webroot SecureAnywhere® antivirus protection covering up to three devices. Webroot will do regular scans, protect users from cybercriminals, and block ransomware, viruses, malware, and suspicious files.
- ISP speed monitoring with monthly reports. This provides users with data indicating the speed and bandwidth they are receiving from their internet service provider.
- Priority phone support which gives Luma Guardian subscribers high prioritization in receiving tech assistance. There is also the option to use the chat service on the Luma app to get a hold of a tech expert anytime of the week.
Who Needs the Luma Guardian Subscription?
Luma offers intrusion detection and profile-based content blocking in their base product. However, according to CEO Paul Judge, the networking hardware-maker startup had been receiving plenty of security-related questions from Luma users. The company incorporated IoT security into its system a while back. It has since spotted security problems in almost two-thirds of the thousands of homes using their Luma device. They were blocking the problems, but there was still the challenge of going to their users’ devices and cleaning them up.
Unlike companies that have their own team to manage security and equipment problems, homeowners usually have to rely on their own selves to take care of such issues. With plenty of available software and apps provided for free or a minimal fee, this should be no problem for most web users of today. But not everyone has the time, patience, or tech savvy skills to install antivirus software and VPNs, run ISP speed tests, and so on. With the Luma Guardian service, they can have a ready team of experts to set up and manage their internet defense system and monitor their home network performance. And for just $5 a month, the subscription is an appealing option.
Another group of consumers who could benefit from a Luma Guardian subscription are older users who would require the skills and ready assistance of tech experts. It seems that Luma is targeting this demographic with the help of 78-year old Jonathan Goldsmith. The “Most Interesting Man in the World” answers the important question of why you should care about online privacy in a video posted by Luma.
Services for a Better and More Secure Home Network
“Consumers deserve more control over their digital life,” said Judge. And the launch of the Luma Guardian is very timely as more consumers are looking for means to achieve that. But it is also just one of several services you can use to provide better security, privacy, and performance for your home network.
Wi-Fi systems developer eero inc. also introduced its own subscription service called Eero Plus. You can get it for $9.99 a month or $99 a year. Your subscription covers protection for your network and devices from malware, ransomware, and phishing. You will also get enhanced parental controls and priority access to Eero customer support. More features are in the works and will be added in the future without any additional cost. The company’s CEO Nick Weaver describes the service as “similar to Amazon Prime”.
If you are interested to improve your home’s internet system, it pays to know which mesh Wi-Fi network kits provide the best connectivity, security, and tech support service. You also have to consider the size of your house, how easy it is to set up, the type of controls you can have, and your budget.
