US Cyber Trust labels help consumers choose safer smart devices
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New labels proposed by the U.S. government could soon help consumers choose smart devices and fitness trackers that it believes are relatively safe from cyberattacks, the Biden administration announced Tuesday.
Internet-connected devices such as refrigerators, televisions, microwave ovens, and climate control systems can carry the US Cyber Trust Mark if they meet cybersecurity requirements set forth by the federal government. The administration expects the voluntary labeling program to go into effect next year after the Federal Communications Commission solicits public comment on the proposal.
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until now, Amazon, Best buy, Google, LG Electronics USA., Logitech and Samsung are among the companies that have committed to improving the cybersecurity of the products they sell as part of the announcement, the government said.
To earn the US Cyber Trust Mark, companies must adhere to cybersecurity standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), such as requiring strong passwords and software updates.
On Tuesday, the FCC is filing a national trademark application for a label that will apply to products that meet the standards. The Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is expected to help inform consumers about the new label once it is approved and encourage retailers to favor products that have it.
According to the announcement, other executive agencies also plan to get involved in improving the security of connected devices. For example, the Department of Energy will work with National Laboratories and industry to create cybersecurity labeling standards for smart meters and inverters. And the State Department plans to involve allies in synchronizing cybersecurity marking standards and ensuring international recognition of such markings.
NIST will also take the lead in creating cybersecurity requirements for consumer routers by the end of 2023, which the administration called “a higher-risk product that, if compromised, can be used to eavesdrop, steal passwords and attack other devices. and high-value networks’. Once finalized, the FCC may choose to use the standards to apply the new label to these products as well.
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