The video for the device’s Indiegogo campaign is a bit like a horror movie. “If you own a smartphone, baby monitor, or even a thermostat, you are an easy target for cybercriminals,” warns the voiceover as ominous music plays in the background. The concerns Cujo raises are valid. Last year, an HP study revealed every Internet-connected home security system the researchers tested had encryption issues, a lack of lockout features, no requirements for strong passwords, or a mix of all three.
Cujo helps by monitoring all your connected devices through your router and looking for anomalies. It protects against hackers, viruses, malware, and dangerous sites with firewalls and antivirus protection, according to the company. Instead of relying on known libraries of known malware, the device uses machine learning to analyze when something seems amiss. When it finds someone or something attacking a device, Cujo blocks it. (Maybe the device was actually dubbed Cujo after the nickname for former NHL goalie Curtis Joseph?)
The white, rounded device (it looks a little like a candle) is easy to set up: You basically just connect it to your router, and it starts detecting all your security cameras, gaming systems, and connected whatevers. The device itself is only $49, but you’ll need a $9 monthly (or $89 annually) subscription for it to actually work.
Cujo is making a lot of big promises, and if it actually delivers, the device could definitely help take a bite out of cybercrime.
Editors' Recommendations
- How to tell if your security camera has been hacked
- The best firewalls for small businesses in 2020
- A beginner’s guide to Tor: How to navigate the underground internet
- How to tell if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi — and what you can do about it
- The best free antivirus platforms for Mac in 2020
