As part of D-Link’s announcements today at CES 2018, it has also announced a new router that it created with the help of McAfee. This AC2600 WiFi router (model number is DIR-2680)has all of the latest tech you’d expect, inside a router in 2018, which means fast speeds. But perhaps more important than speed, this router also has McAfee’s security built-in, so you can protect everything on your network directly from the router. D-Link says that this partnership “delivers on both companies’ vision to address the pressing need for online security as people’s lives become increasingly connected.”
This router from D-Link has dual-band 802.11ac performance, so you’re getting the fastest speeds available here, and there is also MU-MIMO technology included so that even on crowded networks, it should still run with ease. But the big differentiator here is the McAfee Secure Home Platform. This will automatically protect all of the devices connected to the network, and paired with the Intel Home WiFi Chipset WAV500 Series, you’ll be getting robust WiFi connectivity throughout your home. Even when running multiple high-bandwidth applications (think gaming, streaming 4K and such).
The reasoning behind McAfee and D-Link partnering up on this router is quite simple. Smart Home and Internet of Things products are gaining momentum these days, instead of just having a computer or two and maybe a few smartphones connected to our WiFi network, many have a whole lot more connected, including gaming consoles, security cameras, smart speakers, thermostats and so much more. Which makes the risk of getting hacked by one of those products having a flaw in its technology, much greater. So having McAfee’s Secure Home Platform built-in, and at the router level, it means that everything connected will be safe. Even when your family members come over for a birthday or something and connect to your network, they are also safe.
Now while the router is going to be pretty safe, D-Link did also want to make it easy to setup and control. And the company has done that, making it possible to setup through the D-Link app on your smartphone. It’ll walk you through the process pretty easily, including adjusting settings for McAfee’s Secure Home Platform. McAfee is also using Machine Learning on this router, so that it will get smarter over time and learn to block new threats without you needing to be aware of them or updating the router. D-Link has included comprehensive parental controls, which is definitely important, since the internet is a scary place, and you’ll want to keep your kids nice and safe. D-Link has not announced a price for the DIR-2680 just yet, but has stated that it will be available in the second quarter of this year. It’ll also be on display at CES 2018 this week in Las Vegas at the Intel booth, for those that are in town and headed to the show.
