The US Government Launches "Cyber Trust Mark," A Scheme For Smart Home Device Security Marking.

The US government is putting policies into place to raise awareness about the security of smart home technology. The “US Cyber Trust Mark” effort, launched by the Biden-Harris administration, aims to authorize and classify Internet of Things devices in order to shield users from cyberattacks.

Smart TVs, microwaves, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and fitness trackers are just a few of the connected home appliances that are included by the certification program. It might extend beyond the area of smart home automation.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will establish the requirements for consumer-grade router cybersecurity standards by the end of 2023.

Bad actors can easily manipulate these routers for eavesdropping and cyberattacks on other devices if there aren’t adequate security measures in place. Using NIST’s evaluation criteria, it will be possible to decide whether a product needs to be certified and branded by looking at elements like incident detection capabilities and strong default passwords.

Additionally, to identify the best method for classifying smart meters and power inverters as satisfying cybersecurity criteria, the US Department of Energy is working with National Labs and other partners.

Google, Samsung, Logitech, Amazon, Best Buy, and the Connectivity Standards Alliance (which is the home of the Matter smart home standard) are just a few of the companies, retailers, and trade associations that have voluntarily backed the certification. These companies also produce consumer electronics, appliances, and other goods.

According to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the new mark would increase customer confidence in the goods they buy while assisting manufacturers.

Products must satisfy particular requirements established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in order to qualify for the mark. To create these criteria, the FCC has started a rule-making process and is looking for public input. The participating devices would also include QR codes so users can quickly obtain the most recent security information in addition to showing logos.

After the FCC publishes its final guidelines, the Consumer Technology Association stated that the certified items will be displayed during the yearly industry exhibition, CES 2024, in January.