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UK tightens regulations for smart home products requiring unique passwords-Hong Kongunwire.hk

Although the smart home is convenient, many people do not customize the password when installing it, so hackers can control the victim’s system by using the preset password. The United Kingdom recently introduced new regulations that require manufacturers to use unique codes instead of common preset passwords.

The UK’s newly introduced “Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act” aims to improve the security of smart home devices, prohibiting manufacturers from using common preset passwords and requiring disclosure of the release date of security updates. Violators will face hefty fines. This regulation began to be consulted last year and is now finally implemented. Violation of the new regulations can be fined up to 10 million pounds or 4% of the company’s total revenue. The law applies not only to manufacturers, but also to companies importing technology products into the UK. The products covered include smart phones, routers, security camcorders, game consoles and speakers, as well as electrical appliances and toys that can be connected to the Internet.

The British government stated that there have been 1.5 billion attempts to attack IoT devices in the first half of 2020, and the consequences can be serious. For example, in the 2017 attack, hackers attacked an Internet-connected fish tank from a casino. The data was stolen.

Source: gov.uk

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