Network security device promises secure smart homes

Cujo, a simple device that connects to a router via Ethernet for monitoring smart home network security has raised nearly $140,000 or more than 400 percent of its $30,000 goal with almost half a month left in its campaign on Indiegogo.

The device addresses smart home consumers’ concern that as the number of connected devices increases, the higher the chance that the ‘connected’ home can be hacked. Aside from this, the product caught consumers’ attention through its compelling price. Cujo goes for $49 inclusive of six months of service. After the crowdfunding campaign, the retail price will be closer to $100 for the device and $8.99 per month for the service.

Cujo is a trend smart device retailers should follow closely. If network-level security grows, displacing device-level security like antivirus computer software, it could serve as a catalyst for the Internet of Things market. It usually takes the right combination of innovative products and services to compel consumers to buy into new technology. Smart home security could be comparable to e-commerce and online banking, which were not viable until SSL (and now TLS) emerged as a common encryption method for data transfer on the web. Once protection was in place, perceptions that sending money over the Internet is very dangerous and unsecure started to change. Retailers of IoT devices should look for similar attitude shifts in the smart home market.