Cujo is a smart-home device that promises to defend against hacks and attacks (Keywords: cujo security review, get cujo, cujo internet security, cujo internet security review, cujo firewall, cujo device, cujo firewall review, cujo indiegogo)
According to a news story on digitaltrends.com about CUJO device,
If you’ve read Stephen King’s book or seen the movie, you know Cujo is a rabid Saint Bernard who really wants to eat that kid from Who’s the Boss (not Alyssa Milano… the other one). It’s an interesting name to choose for a smart-home device, especially because Cujo is all about defense.
Related: CUJO Security Device For Your Smart Home: Internet Security Firewall Review
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.
Related: Hack me not: Auto manufacturers form an alliance to prevent future cyber attacks
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?)
Related: CUJO Security Device For Your Smart Home: Internet Security Firewall Review
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.
CUJO FAQs
How can I contact you?
Email us at [email protected] or give us a call at 1-844-GET-CUJO.
Can I follow you on social media?
Please say hello to us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @cujounited. Follow us there to get great security tips and inspirations. Also, be sure to catch up on our blog posts where we provide important connected home security information.
You state that you anonymously analyze our traffic. How is this possible?
We do see your IP, and is anonymized. Messages come in via push notification on your mobile device.
What do you collect and what do you keep?
Do you log? Will you share with 3rd parties? Could you be required to divulge the information? We collect metadata based on destination IP addresses. We log that the communication of your CUJO device is functioning with our cloud. We will NOT share data with 3rd parties. If legally obliged, we can divulge, but the derived data may not be of much use.
Related: CUJO Security Device For Your Smart Home: Internet Security Firewall Review
I would like more info about privacy. How much of my traffic will my CUJO capture?
It sees MOST of your traffic. We cannot see encrypted payload from banks, social media, etc. We do collect metadata headers based on deep packet inspection. Raw deep packet inspection NEVER leaves your CUJO device and it is not stored. When the CUJO device publishes the metadata, It is important to know that is encrypted and anonymized.
Is CUJO a VPN device?
A VPN device secures the information you are sending to your destination. It does not keep you safe from criminals penetrating your network. Though we have a VPN feature in our product roadmap, we are focusing on the larger issue of home hacking. We do that in several ways: behavioral analysis of your device payloads, malware and virus scanning DNS, and packet inspection.
Can CUJO be hacked?
Any device can be hacked. It is a matter of how much effort and resources one would spend to do it. Being a security company we naturally focus much of our attention to prevent that from happening. We encrypt our connections. And we secured our hardware to be very difficult to penetrate. If it were to happen, criminals would not find much information since we do not store credit card data ourselves and we aggregate only limited packet information in the cloud.
Is CUJO going to completely hack-proof my home?
We see CUJO as a very important, hopefully most important, layer of your Internet security. That said, no single solution could protect you against 100% of attacks. For example, modern Antivirus solutions are said to be effective in less than half of attacks. We believe CUJO will be much more effective because it inspects attacks at the gateway level. However, you should keep your current software security and, most importantly, stay vigilant.
Do I still need Antivirus software for my PC?
CUJO does not scan what is on your PC, but rather looks at traffic coming to and leaving from your PC and other devices. Security needs to be multi-layered so it is absolutely important for you to have a good Antivirus software on your desktops and laptops.
Why do I need CUJO?
We used to have 1 or 2 computers in our homes. Now our home is full of connected devices – from tablets to thermostats – that don’t have proper security installed. Virtual criminals are exploiting our networks to steal data, destroy devices, and monitor us at home. This has led to countless incidents that have affected people both virtually and physically. CUJO acts as a shield for your entire home network, adapting continuously to keep you safe.
How do I get software updates?
Software updates are available continuously, without service interruption. The CUJO cloud communicates updates and new threats to the device around the clock – it never takes a break, so your device is always up to date.
What is the lifespan of the device? Will there be updated models? If so, how often?
We are building a device that will be improved through software updates, so our goal is not to sell you a new hardware product every year. We expect your CUJO device to last at least a few years before the hardware will need to be replaced. As we learn from our customers, we will release improved hardware versions when necessary, but again, our main focus is to improve the software.
Related: CUJO Security Device For Your Smart Home: Internet Security Firewall Review
What tech support is available?
To start, tech support will be available via phone and email from 8am to 6pm PST. Once we ship in the first quarter of 2016, tech support will be available 24/7/365.
Is there a subscription for service?
There are two subscription options: one is a monthly subscription ($8.99) and the other is an annual subscription ($89).
If I live outside of the U.S., can I purchase CUJO and reap all its benefits?
Customers in Canada and the European Union can purchase CUJO to protect their homes. Even though the device will work elsewhere, the U.S., Canada and the European Union are the countries/regions we are focusing on from the regulatory and service perspective. Please note that you may have to pay duties and taxes when shipping a CUJO outside of the US.
Where can I get a CUJO?
We started pre-selling CUJO on Indiegogo. Please follow this link.
How many devices does CUJO protect at once?
To date we have not hit the ceiling, so this answer remains “to be determined.” That being said, our hardware is powerful enough to handle capacity in 99 percent of homes. This means CUJO is able to protect 50+ devices simultaneously.
Can CUJO be used for small business? At what point would I get a consumer product vs. enterprise product to protect my small business?
While the device is powerful enough to protect some small businesses, that market isn’t our focus. Our reasoning? Since homes are most vulnerable to attacks, the safety and security of your home is where the bulk of our efforts lie.
If CUJO doesn’t recognize a device, will it shut the device down?
CUJO will never shut down your connected devices. If it recognizes malicious activity in your network that is attacking a device, CUJO will block the hack or stop the activity on the back end without affecting the device itself. You can, however, choose to shut down any connected device using your CUJO app.
If someone else comes to my home with their tablet, laptop or phone and connects to my internet, will CUJO protect it?
When a visitor comes to your home and connects to the internet using your WiFi log in information, their devices will have full protection while they’re connected.
Will CUJO connect to my network?
To connect CUJO to your network you need to have a wireless router or extender. If you have two wireless routers at home, connect CUJO with an Ethernet cable to the router that you want to protected.
What is the device’s range? Same as my router? What if I have a big mansion with devices on three floors?
CUJO connects to your router with an Ethernet cable, so range is not applicable since CUJO does not need to connect to each individual device to offer protection. If your device receives signal from your router, rest assured CUJO has it covered.
Related: CUJO Security Device For Your Smart Home: Internet Security Firewall Review
What does your device do?
CUJO is a smart security device that teaches itself to protect all devices connecting to your home Internet. It will protect your PC, laptops, tablets, smart-phones, connected wearables, and all other Internet of Things against viruses, malware, hacks, and virtual intruders.
Who are you?
CUJO is a digital home security company based out of Redondo Beach, California. Our mission is to secure all homes from virtual threats.
CUJO
