What is the future of the Bitdefender box ?

Hello @jnq35 and welcome to the Community!

Bitdefender is committed to delivering innovative, effective security solutions to our customers. As technologies and threats evolve, Bitdefender continues to proactively develop and shape its solution set. The resulting new solutions and feature modifications often lead to a need to discontinue older software revisions and products.

Sadly, the Bitdefender BOX2 was the last of its kind and there are no future plans to develop a third version.

Stay safe.

The BOX is safe to use as long as it runs an active subscription.

The product has not yet reached its end of life, it's just that there are no intentions to develop a successor.

An official announcement will be made one year before its retirement.

Cheers and stay safe.

My Box subscription is due to expire next week.
It looks like the best option for future proofing would be to move to the Netgear Armor but I'm confused by this model...

In the UK, I can buy a Netgear wifi router that is compatible with Armor - but it says it comes with a 30 day trial.
https://store.netgear.co.uk/product/rax30-100eus

So I'm buying a netgear router and then (after 30 days) paying for a yearly subscription to Armor - which is a BitDefender product that runs on the router - like the Box did?

Is that basically correct?

Hi,

All Armor-compatible Netgear routers come with a 30-day trial, and if the customer decides they want to buy it, they can do so after 30 days.

Cheers.

@RBD I understand that the Orbi satellite, connected to a router, has the same function as the BB2.

As a BOX 2 user since its inception I too am disappointed but I understand hardware tends to have a relatively short lifespan in general. My (much) bigger concern is the software. Yes, I realize Bitdefender will continue to support the BOX 2 software for the time being but surely the time will come when they are no longer able or willing to do so. Then what?

I appreciate that Bitdefender's partnership with Netgear is probably beneficial for a variety of reasons. But when software support for the BOX 2 inevitably stops which we all know it will (probably sooner than later) the only option - assuming I want to keep using Bitdefender software (which I do) - is to make me buy into the Netgear router ecosystem? I have nothing against Netgear but limiting my brand options makes me resentful.

Look, I realize it's not just Bitdefender doing this and that other router manufacturers like Asus and TP-Link have locked-in deals of their own with other security providers like Trend Micro and Norton respectively. Both of which I'm sure are effective but aren't as comprehensive as what Bitdefender offers.

I'm simply saying (venting, really) about how it would be nice if the consumer could make their own choice as to what security software they use with which router. To me that is the true appeal of a standalone device like the BOX 2 beyond the obvious effectiveness of the software itself. Yes, it's yet another network "box" to be plugged in but at least it's router agnostic.

If/when the decision is made to end future development of the (BOX 2) software then whatever Bitdefender Support says about what happens to BOX users will be a moot point because I see only two potential i.e., realistic outcomes.

1. Bitdefender decides to immediately cutoff all access to the BOX 2 software effectively rendering the BOX 2 hardware useless.
2. Bitdefender continues to provide access to the last software version but will no longer provide updates (it's barely been updated the past few years as it is) which would work in the short-term but at some point the software would eventually fall behind the threat curve and possibly become a security risk itself. Without active updates there would be no reason for users to trust in its effectiveness.

Regardless, Bitdefender would have made their decision to end support one way or another. Either option effectively means an EOL for the BOX 2 software. The only difference being one would be immediate and the other would drag on for a bit. It would still be "over." So what could Support possibly say at that point that would make their decision any less of a dead-end scenario for current BOX 2 users?

I have no idea when BOX 2 support will eventually end but I can certainly see the writing on the wall. Until then I intend to keep my BOX subscription and old Wi-Fi 5 router limping along until I can find a suitable Wi-Fi 7 mesh router system. Should that be a Netgear model then I can happily continue with Bitdefender Armor. But if not, well…

@Alexandru_BD I hear you, and I'll take that tiny piece of hope. Thanks.

I don't envy Bitdefender's position.

They clearly have a good product but built-in router security has been steadily improving too and I suspect for some it's getting more difficult to justify paying an additional $99/yr for similar security features that are already built-in to some routers. Case in point: I just pulled the trigger on a Ubiquiti (non-Wi-Fi) controller and its security features are impressively robust, as is its entire operating system and UI.

I have not given up on Bitdefender but if as @Alexandru_BD has hinted new BOX software or hardware is in the pipeline then they have their work cut out for them.