BullGuard has launched its Dojo smart home cybersecurity product. Billed as an enterprise-grade, consumer-level product, Dojo aims to lock down and protect IoT devices such as smart alarms, thermostats, baby monitors and smart appliances such as lighting and locks.
BullGuard CEO Paul Lipman asserts that, “A smart home can quickly become a fool’s paradise when IoT devices are not properly secured.”
The device ships as a piece of hardware with a substantial amount of software intelligence inside. As developers now work to lay down stronger IoT cybersecurity management tools, the need to provide customizable network controls is crucial.
Read more: Smart home product manufacturers must target customers in different ways
Smart, then smarter smartness
This, in specific terms, is what BullGuard has sought to achieve with its Dojo Intelligence function. Users can tailor a security policy for each device on the home Wi-Fi network.
This policy is enforced by the Dojo device, which constantly monitors and mitigates both internal and external attacks. Dojo’s cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning service continuously analyzes device and service patterns to protect privacy.
The machine learning element here is cumulative. That is to say, the more Dojo familiarizes itself with a home’s smart devices, the smarter it becomes in detecting and mitigating cyber attacks and privacy breaches.
Read more: More than two-thirds of consumers are concerned about IoT device security
Illuminated pebble
The Dojo hardware is a ‘pebble’ with a set of light rings.
- Green rings of light indicate that the user’s network is secured and their privacy is intact.
- Yellow rings indicate that a risk has been detected and automatically mitigated.
- Red rings of light indicate that an action must be taken in the Dojo smartphone app.
A Dojo smartphone app for iOS and Android allows consumers to interact with the Dojo pebble via a messaging interface, which grants them visibility and control of their Wi-Fi network and connected devices and informs them of potential cyber threats.
Read more: Flexibility will be key to dominating the smart home market
From cuddly to creepy
“Many IoT devices are notoriously insecure and it is relatively easy for hackers to exploit their vulnerabilities,” added Yossi Atias, General Manager, IoT Security of BullGuard.
“We’ve seen major privacy breaches in recent months caused by compromised devices, including Mirai, the largest ever DDOS attack launched from an IoT botnet, smart TVs hacked by the CIA and even smart teddy bears go from cuddly to creepy. Device manufacturers often sacrifice security for speed to market and consumers are unwittingly paying the price. Dojo solves the IoT security conundrum and protects every smart home device to ensure security and privacy.”
In a recent survey of 2,000 US consumers conducted by BullGuard about IoT device adoption, nearly 70 percent of consumers said they have concerns about privacy invasion and 23 percent stated that they lack the technical ability to secure their smart home devices.
Available exclusively in the United States at launch (with the UK launch to follow), Dojo by BullGuard retails for $199 USD, including the first 12-months of service.
Read more: Neo Technology CEO: Smart homes won’t work without smart data
Bow to your IoT sensei
Some much-needed Dojo power for IoT protection or just another flaky device than could open up another IoT cybersecurity risk gateway? Bow to your sensei, just in case.
On Friday, we will run an exclusive interview by Internet of Business editor Jessica Twentyman with Bullguard CEO Paul Lipman, focusing on Bullguard’s wider smart home vision and strategy.