Anonabox: Kickstarter Suspends Popular Privacy Router Campaign

The campaign raised more than $585K

By Karl Utermohlen, InvestorPlace Writer Oct 20, 2014, 5:37 pm EDT October 20, 2014

The popular Kickstarter campaign Anonabox has been suspended over concerns regarding whether or not the product is original.

Anonabox was a simple and beautiful idea: an open source router that runs on Tor. The device — created by August Germar of Chico, California — would allow users to surf the web through the software’s anonymous capabilities.

However, Kickstarter suspended Germar’s campaign after it was discovered that the Anonabox used a stock motherboard and case from Gainstrong, a Chinese supplier. Kickstarter suspends a project if the creator attempts to pass someone else’s work as their own.

Germar was shocked by the crowdfunding site’s move, saying that he only planned on making a batch of 100 Anonaboxes. He added that the Gainstrong product is a generic piece of hardware that didn’t even exist four years ago when he started working on the device.

The Anonabox had raised $585,549 before it was suspended, easily surpassing its $7,500 goal.

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