Is bitdefender box worth it?

Yes, it is. The bitdefender box is a smart device that protects all your home appliances from hacking attacks and malware. The device works like a supercharged router hence is capable of replacing your existing network kits.It functions, as a router, firewall, and ISP manager all rolled up in one hence saving you money that you would have used purchasing the individual components.

Key Bitdefender features

Protection from malware

Even if you are not a network guru, the bitdefender will still serve you well. All you need to do is connect all your devices to the box and the box will start working in the background as it protects your devices. It will offer you protection for outgoing connections while blocking any malware attempts from accessing your devices. This is not all the boxdoes,it will also protect all your card details by encrypting sensitive information. The box is always on the lookout and in this regards, it keeps an alertness on any dubious incoming connections.

The bitdefender will also offer a layer of protection over your network and will alert you through notifications for any dubious behavior. The biggest problem is it is not that easy to evaluate how the box is working for something like your smart TV. When we tested the Box with our laptop we noticed that it prevented our laptop from accessing dangerous sites.

How Bitdefender compares with others – Malware protection

Anti-virus	Malware detection (score)	Malware detection (percentage)	Malicious URL Blocking
Bitdefender	8.6	89%	99%
McAfee Total Protection	9.6	96%	100%
G Data Internet Security	9.8	98%	99%
Norton 360 Deluxe	9.5	96%	97%
Kaspersky Internet Security	9.3	93%	81%
Avira Internet security	8.8	89%	81%
Sophos Home Premium	9.8	98%	100%

Filtering unwarranted websites

The risks of malware and virus attacks is very high in the age of internet connectivity. The number of devices that are today connected to the internet keeps increasing. The bitdefender has a filtering system that checks an URL and if it is found to be suspicious it is put on a whitelist.

Firewall protection

The Box works well as a firewall as it will protect all connected devices from incoming attacks and offers data protection whenever you key in a password over the internet. The box will not allow you to send a password if it notices that there is an insecure (HTTP) connection. Everything on the box is run through its central app. You can then access the network status page where the box will tell you whether all your connected devices are safe or not.

The Box also comes with a parental control feature. This allows you to block and restrict access to certain websites that are harmful to your children. This are features you will find in typical routers.

Moderate Subscription fees

The Bitdefender costs you about $200 for one year. This fee is inclusive of the router and puts you into their Bitdefender total security. For devices there is an equivalent software like Bitdefender Mobile security for Android and Bitdefender Mobile security for iOS and Bitdefender for Mac. Once you have paid the initial $200 for the first year, you will need to pay $99 for the core bitdefender features. You also get the Total security for an unlimited number of devices. When you compare this with Bitdefender’s main competitor the F-Secure SENSE where you get charged $111 for hardware and an annual $182 for protecting ten devices. Afterwards you pay $182 annually. This is quite costly and way higher than what the bitdefender charges.

Bitdefender installation

The Bitdefender operates on dual core 1.2GHz ARM Cortex CPU. It also comes with 4GB of internal storage and 1GB DDR3 of RAM. Wi-Fi for the Bitdefender is through an 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac AC1900 setup. This gives you superfast internet speeds for all your devices. You also get two ports one WAN and one LAN. This are great for supporting gaming consoles that require Ethernet connection. You can plug in your router to the unit. The box also comes with a 1 meter Ethernet cable that works well for those engaged in gaming.

When the box was unleashed it was limited to the US market only but it is now easily available to users internationally. The unit supports 100-240volts input which means you can using it when traveling as long as you have a travel adapter.

Bitdefender doubles up as ISP router

The first thing you notice once you purchase the Bitdefender is how well packaged it is. The unit is tucked away in a premium box. The router comes in a minimalistic design with its characteristic cream and black triangular block. You will see the Ethernet ports and power connection tucked well on the unit. The setup manual can seem intimidating for many but it is not that hard to setup the bitdefender. The first thing you will need to do is download the Bitdefender central app for Android and iOS. The problem is the company has not issued a desktop version.

Once you have downloaded the app you will be asked to log in the box to your phone network. Your device should at this time be connected to the internet. This can be done by connecting your router cable to the box. You can use the bitdefender in a number of ways like as standalone router, personal router that enables bridge/AP mode and ISP router. This means you need to choose the network mode on your device once you connect to the box. If you for example choose the ISP router mode then you will be asked to log in your ISP credentials. Once you have chosen this you will be requested to disable your devices from the original wireless network so that it now reconnects to the box. If you have the ability you should do this simply by turning off the Wi-Fi from the settings page. If you are still unable to disable them then you can call the bitdefender box free installation lines. They do offer free and an amazing customer support via telephone and email.

FAQ

Can I use the bitdefender as a router?

Yes, the Bitdefender works as a firewall, standard ISP and router

Do you have parental control on the Bitdefender?

The box allows you to set parental control so that your children do not access inappropriate sites