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We've all seen the stories about baby monitors or indoor cameras being hacked to broadcast inappropriate messages or spy on people in their homes. It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which is why the White House called on the FCC to create a "US Cyber Trust Mark" label that device makers can add to packaging and help shoppers know that a gadget has been put through the security paces.
The process kicked off in 2023, was approved by the FCC in March 2024, and is now ready to roll out to smart devices on store shelves.
The idea is "to educate American consumers and give them an easy way to assess the cybersecurity of [IoT] products, as well as incentivize companies to produce more cybersecure [devices], much as EnergyStar labels did for energy efficiency," the White House said this week.
US Cyber Trust Marks will be awarded to smart home products that meet cybersecurity standards set by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology.
(Credit: FCC)To earn a label, companies must submit samples to label administrators approved by the FCC. Products eligible for the label include home security cameras, voice-activated shopping devices, smart appliances, fitness trackers, garage door openers, and baby monitors.
If they get a label, manufacturers can affix the US Cyber Trust Mark logo on their products. The logo will be accompanied by a QR code that customers can scan for more information on the product’s security, such as the default password, ways to configure the device securely, whether security patches/updates are automatic, the minimum support period, and so on.
Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, expects products with the US Cyber Trust Mark to hit shelves before the end of this year, The Verge reports. In statements released by the White House, Amazon and Best Buy execs backed the program.
“We see great potential in the US Cyber Trust Mark Program. It is a positive step forward for consumers, and we are excited about the opportunity to highlight this program for our customers," said Michael Dolan, Senior Director and Head of Enterprise Privacy & Data Protection at Best Buy.
"We believe consumers will value seeing the US Cyber Trust Mark both on product packaging and while shopping online," said Amazon VP Steve Downer. "We look forward to collaborating with industry partners and the government on consumer education efforts and implementation strategies.”