BitDefender - BOX 2 Smart Home Cybersecurity Hub - Black/White

If you have a household of internet connected devices, like cell phones, laptops, computers, cameras, security systems, tablets, vacuum cleaners, TVs, Stereos and oh so much more, then this is the best way to keep the wrong people from taking advantage of vulnerabilities of those things. The Bitdefender Box 2 is meant to sit between your Internet Service Provider and your network and monitor all traffic that goes out to the world wild web. As I have a modem and a router the setup was fairly simple. Using the Bitdefender Central app it required moving 2 cables from the router to the box and box to the router and it was up and running. However, in order for the Box 2 to actually see all the devices on the network, the router had to be changed to a bridge, which is also fairly simple on most modern routers. If you don’t already have a router, or your modem is the router, the Box 2 can provide router functions. The one thing I don’t like is that you don’t get to control many of the network features you normally do of a typical router, such as controlling your channels and guest networks. So, my router still provides the individual device connectivity. Your network IP is also then controlled by the Box 2, which I can’t find any way to change back, so I have just adapted. All of the control of the Box 2 is performed through the Bitdefender Central app with no local web interface. The app provides details of every device that is connected and for the most part identified the devices perfectly, providing their network names and device type. All devices that aren’t a computer or an Android device were identified as “Protected” while all the other devices showed as “Needing attention.” When checking the computers and phones it states that they are protected, but only on my home network and recommends installing local protection. If the device is not the device that you are currently using, then it will ask for an email to send you a link to the Bitdefender Antivirus Software for that device, otherwise you can choose to install locally if you are logged into the central site on a PC. As for protection it has notified me that it has blocked dangerous URLs, one in particular I still have no idea what it is and why my TV is trying to get to it, but others were on purpose and the site just showed a Bitdefender splash page that showed it was dangerous. Through the app I could allow the site, though it isn’t very clear where it goes when you allow it if you do it by accident. You have to go into the Settings > Whitelist if you want to remove it again. You can also pause a devices internet connection preventing them from using your internet all together. In addition to having local network protection you also get a year’s subscription to Bitdefender Internet Security for unlimited devices. This includes antivirus, optimizer and parental controls. All of these features can be monitored through the Central app and site as well. The software can be found through other reviews, but for the price, if you have more than 5 devices it is well worth the annual subscription. One feature I did not notice till I tried it with the Box 2 is the parental controls, once installed on the devices, allow for easy control and monitoring of your child’s devices. This can help limit what they can search for, who they contact, and the times or amount of internet they are allowed to use. However, it seemed to bog my son’s phone down a good bit and when I went to change the bed time hours, after hours, it would not give him access till we uninstalled parental controls. With the parental controls you do get to see more of what traffic is being used by them, but that is only devices being controlled. Though I’m not much of a major paranoid type person, the one thing I don’t like is the fact that I have another party that now sees every single thing we do on the internet. It was bad enough my ISP could do it, and even Bitdefender software pushes their VPN to help protect privacy. However, the Box 2 is seeing your traffic before it is put behind a single IP and using their cloud to help determine what is safe and what is bad. Though I do feel comfortable that some random hacker may be adverted and my kids will be safer, I just don’t like knowing they can see stuff and they aren't showing me what they get to see. Like it shows per day how much traffic is “protected” but what was in that traffic.

I received this in the mail and instantly tore open the packaging to install it. I initially did not feel this product was not too necessary for most homes so long as you use antivirus on your devices and practice safe browsing habits but I figured there are a lot of smart devices in my home that do not get protection or routine security updates… so it couldn't hurt. Upon unboxing the device appeared much smaller than I expected! It looks nice in any room and just makes things look extra high tech wherever you put it. The box has a start up guide, the unit, a CAT6 cable and the AC adaptor. Setup was a bit of a headache for me. I was planning on installing it with my existing router. I use FiOS so there is no modem box, just the ethernet going straight to my router. To set it up you must download the Bitdefender connect app, plug it in, connect to it on your phone via wifi directly, log in, set up your router in bridge mode, let it configure and gtg! Well, it wasn’t so painless for me. I was able to follow up to setting up the router… this was no problem from the side of bitdefender but my router I use did not support bridge mode! I was amazed by this seeing as how it is a high end router. I switched to my backup router which did indeed support bridge mode. I set it up but had to start over. The reason is that the bitdefender box uses a IP address starting with 172 when most home routers use a IP address starting with 192. Well I did not set up a static IP address in my router so I was unable to further configure it unless I put the IP range and Subnet mask to match. A rookie mistake yes but I am sure lots of consumers that prefer to not mess with such settings might have a hard time. Anyways, I did a factory reset on the Bitdefender Box 2 and my router to start over and after the reset, the Bitdefender Box 2 did not seem to allow me to enter any kind of setup. Turns out the solution was to erase the app from my phone and reinstall since logging in and out had no effect. Ok… so after getting it properly set up after a few hours… it worked just fine! I did not see any real noticeable performance hit. I pay for 150 mbps down and 150 mbps up. It was a tiny bit slower in my downlink but my uplink was pretty much on spot. My ping was a ms or two higher but again, nothing I would notice. It is hard to review how effective it is since unless something happens you probably won’t know, but… I visited a few sites that are meant to test your antivirus solutions and the results seemed good. First, the device gives you unlimited access to Bitdefender on your computer so the software was first to warn me of the sites to which I continued on. The Bitdefender Box 2 then blocked the website and gave me a message. I checked the app on my phone which told me I had had 6 malware attempts blocked so that was nice! The app also gives you an overview of how secure your network is. If there is a pc, tablet of phone that has bitdefender software available that is not installed it will offer to help you get it on your device (again, unlimited downloads for a year!). I think I will keep it as part of my networks as it adds piece of mind and does not affect performance to any noticeable effect. Plus… it looks cool! My only reason I deducted starts was for the painful setup process. Otherwise it is a great product!

In the age of Internet of Things (IoT), old concept of software based anti-virus or security solutions is not sufficient. How do you make sure that your new fridge connected to your wifi is not vulnerable to hackers? That's where this Box comes into picture and secures ALL your devices by monitoring the internet traffic. The setup was easy but took a bit of time. I already have a velop 3 node wifi system which I wanted to keep, so I followed steps provided in the installation guide and everything went fine. I had to restart my ISP modem and then restart the box. After the setup, it scanned all the devices connected to the network and provided recommendations. Note: you might need to restart some of the devices (e.g. I have a WD MyCloud backup drive which could not retrieve new IP. But after the restart all worked fine). It also comes with Bitdefender Total Security antivirus software for an unlimited number of PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets. I installed that on all my computers and smart phones and tablets. It found a number of malware on my son's computer which were not detected by Windows Defender and that computer works much faster now. I have heard that it might slow down your internet speed a bit but I haven't really faced any issues. All my streaming devices still stream without any issues/buffering and browsing on computers and phones/tablets is fast. It has a very sleek design. Overall, I am really happy with this box. It gives me a big peace of mind knowing that all the devices in my network are secured and being monitored. I totally recommend this.

If you think about it, every measure is taken to ensure that business data is protected. You may have heard of data breaches because a company did not properly protect their network or perhaps even employee error. How about protecting your home network? Personal home networks can be just as advanced as business networks. Many people work from home, have multiple devices connected on their home network but leave their home network open to anyone who is technically savvy enough to intrude. People use weak passwords or inadvertently download malicious content. The Bitdefender Box 2 is a home security solution neatly packaged in what looks like a bluetooth speaker. The box resides on a home network, monitoring, protecting and preventing. Configuration is relatively easy for someone with decent technical skills. If not, a call to Bitdefender's technical support department will be needed. Once configured, I did not notice any change in my Internet connection. Speeds remained the same. The devices offers quite a bit of protection. However (there is always one), a subscription is required to maintain the security. Out of the box a 1-year subscription is included. The first two features alone are worth it: Safe Browsing - prevent malicious content from being downloaded. Believe it or not, downloading malware is like blinking. You don't think about it, it just happens. Parental Control - Keep your family safe by filtering Internet content. Other features that home users rarely think about but equally critical as the top two: Exploit Prevention - Identify and block attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in your devices and network. Vulnerability assessment - Bitdefender BOX continuously scans, identifies and highlights network security flaws. Sensitive Data Protection - No sensitive information sent without encryption. This feature will identify whenever credit card information, authentication information or location data is sent over a non-encrypted connection and block the attempt. Brute Force Protection - The brute force protection technology will prevent hackers from taking control over your devices. Anomaly Detection - Bitdefender BOX understands how devices should behave under normal circumstances and is able to accurately identify, block and alert you upon any malicious activity. Device Management - Whenever a new device connects to your network, Bitdefender BOX promptly detects it and sends an instant notification to your Bitdefender Central app so you can take action and control what that device is allowed to do. Local Device Security - Bitdefender BOX includes Total Security, our award winning cybersecurity suite to protect all your laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets, across Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. The feature rich Bitdefender 2 box is a must have for any home network. In this complex world, where everything is connected 24/7, a bit of protection is required.

I feel more secure that all of my smart connected home devices are protected. This device would prevent a hacker from entering your home network through any of your internet connected device. Nowadays there are tons of connected devices besides computers, smartphones, and tablets that use the internet, such as TVs, game consoles, printers, security system and cameras, refrigerators, garage door opener, lighting fixtures/bulbs, and etc… The Bitdefender BOX has a nice clean and futuristic look. With the Quick Start Guide, the setup is easy and straightforward. You will need to download an app and create an account, the app will guide you through the rest of the setup process. The app will instruct you to plug the power cord into the device and the wall outlet, then wait for the LED. Next, connect the box to your Wi-Fi network, this step has three options (1) use the Wi-Fi router from your internet service provider (ISP), (2) use your own personal Wi-Fi router or (3) use the Bitdefender box as a standalone Wi-Fi router. My setup was very easy without an issue; for my setup, I used my Wi-Fi router. One excellent feature of this device is that if you encounter any issue during a setup you may call the 24/7 free setup assistance number. Once everything is set up, the Bitdefender scans all connected devices and continuously search for any weakness. The app will let you know of ongoing events and this will help prevent security threats. It really blocks suspicious links and blocks them; they can be phishing attempts. If you are certain that a link is safe, you can simply allow it with the Bitdefender Central app. Nowadays it is very important to protect our data, such as family photos, digital documents, and credit card bank information. If your network is not protected you have a possible cyber vulnerability. The device includes the Bitdefender Total Security software to remotely protect your computers. The subscription is for one-year and is for unlimited devices. The device also includes various parental safety controls, such as setting content filtering, manage daily internet usage, blackout potential harmful persons, and monitor texts. To close, I highly recommend Bitdefender to protect your home network with a complete cybersecurity.

When it comes to Cyber Security I didn’t really give much thought to securing my network or smart devices. Thankfully, Bitdefender came up with a network based solution to fix an issue, I didn’t even know I had. Inside the package I found the Box, power cord, network cable and instructions. The installation for me was fairly simple, however, I can see how it could be a little difficult for someone that is not tech savvy. I download the app, created a Bitdefender account on my phone, followed the instructions, plugged it in between the modem and router, and set my router as a bridge. There were a few steps I skipped but all that info is in the instructions. After install and poking around in the app, I could see that this box has a lot of cool network security features, which are very useful, such as the Device listing, vulnerability scanner and the ability to cut internet access to a device and the rest of the total security suite.. As far as performance, I didn’t notice any slowdown of my network or devices. The only negative I have about it, is the fact that there’s a subscription tied to it.

I never thought I would have to protect my printer, thermostat, or Google Home from viruses and Trojans, but after a casino had gigabytes of data stolen through a hacked fish tank, I can understand why a whole house monitoring system is important. Bitdefender is one of the top three antivirus software programs, so I thought I could benefit from another layer of protection. I read how the original Box was difficult to set up, but hoped this version fixed the problem. The directions seem straightforward, but I had a couple of hiccups during installation. It is important to note that you should first disable mobile data on the device you plan to use to set up the Box. The first problem I encountered was the Box could not connect to the Internet, and exiting out caused me to have to perform a hard reset (hold the reset button for 10 seconds). I wish Bitdefender allowed a retry instead of requiring a manual installation or this reset. The second problem I ran into was changing my connection type to bridge mode for a Linksys router using the directions provided by Bitdefender. I have my house set up to continue to use my current router, but you can also replace your router with this device and do not have to complete this step. For newer Linksys routers, you need to go to ConnectivityInternet SettingsConnection Type (select edit)then select Bridge Mode. After the setup was complete, I was impressed by how easy the app was to use. It automatically scans my devices on the network and even gives me advice to better secure my data. I expected my internet speed to slow down a little, but I ended up taking over a 25% decrease in download speed (see photo for details). However, I feel this is a small trade-off for the added protections, and I have not noticed any differences while playing online games. With the increase in sensitive data we transmit over the internet, it is more important than ever to prevent you from becoming an identity theft victim. I believe this device is worth every penny, even though it does limit how fast my download speeds can be, and would recommend it for just about every household.

The Good: 1. An intrusion detection system device with behavioral analysis feature (means it will automatically learn network traffic in and out of your house for all your devices and will block something out of the normal behavior such as an accidental click to a phishing email that will go to a malicious site) 2. Connect many devices, I have over 20 devices connected includes all my Internet of Things or smart devices like TV, Alexa, IP cameras. I don't know the limit. 3. All devices connected to the Box will be able to download Bit Defender's Antivirus and malware program (so that means I do not need to go buy another program for Antivirus and malware detection) 4. Remote manage your Box from outside the house with ease using the mobile app. 5. Block devices for minors with the Box like restricting when devices can go online. 6. There is a network vulnerability scan feature to detect threats which is a plus. 7. Pairs greatly with my Linksys Velop mesh router and I am sure it will pair easily with other mesh type routers too. 8. Can become a primary router and replace your current router if needed. The Bad: 1. Not easy to setup for an novice computer person (so don't wait to call support). 2. Reboot device when needing to change the configuration. 3. The mobile app was not easy to navigate at first and takes some time to get used to.