In an effort to make smart home automation gadgets more secure, the UK has published a voluntary code of practice for manufacturers that show how they can proof their products, such as doorbells, cameras, toys and burglar alarms, against common attacks.
The Government’s goal is to prevent gadgets from being hijacked and used to mount cyber-attacks or steal user data. Two companies, Hive Centrica and HP, have agreed to follow the code.
The detailed code, which was drawn up by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Cyber Security Centre, includes 13 separate steps manufacturers can take to produce more secure products.
The steps include: securely storing customer data, requiring users to choose stronger passwords, making it easier for users to delete data and re-set a device, regularly updating software, and setting up a vulnerability disclosure policy
George Brasher, HP UK managing director, said: "Cyber-crime has become an industry and IoT 'endpoint' devices increasingly constitute the front line of cyber-security,"