New ‘Trust Mark Label Coming For Tech Products

In the same way that an Energy Star rating indicates energy efficiency, trusted products will be approved by the FCC for cyber security.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration and major consumer technology players on Tuesday launched a nationwide cybersecurity certification and labeling program to help consumers choose tamper-resistant smart devices.

Officials compared the new US Cyber ​​Trust Mark initiative, which will be overseen by the Federal Communications Commission with voluntary industry participation, to the Energy Star program, which rates the energy efficiency of home appliances.

"This will allow Americans to confidently identify cyber-secure devices connected to the Internet and Bluetooth," Deputy National Security Adviser Ann Neuberger told reporters at a briefing ahead of the announcement.

Amazon, Best Buy, Google, LG Electronics USA, Logitech and Samsung are among the industry players.

Baby monitors, home security cameras, fitness trackers, TVs, refrigerators, and smart climate control systems that comply with US government cybersecurity requirements will carry the "Cyber ​​Trust" shield logo by next year.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenwoortel said the mark will provide "comfort" to consumers and benefit manufacturers whose products must meet the standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The FCC has begun a rulemaking process to set standards and get public opinion. In addition to the logo, participating devices will have scannable QR codes for up-to-date safety information.

If the FCC approves the final rules, consumers can expect to see certified finished products at the annual industry show CES 2024 in January, the Consumer Technology Association said in a statement. A senior Biden administration official said that products that can use the logo must be recertified every year.

Justin Brookman, director of technology policy at Consumer Reports, welcomed the White House proposal but warned in a statement that there is "a long way to go" before it is effectively passed.

“We hope this label will create healthy competition in the marketplace by compelling manufacturers to protect the security and privacy of users of connected devices and commit to protecting these devices throughout the life of these products.”

The Cyber ​​Trust initiative was first announced in October after a meeting at the White House with representatives from the technology industry.

The proliferation of smart devices has coincided with the rise of cybercrime, where an unsecured device can often provide a dangerous foothold for a cyberattack on a home network.

An April report based on smart home monitoring by cybersecurity company Bitdefender and networking equipment company NetGear found that the most vulnerable devices in 2022 are smart TVs, remote controls, smart jacks, routers and digital video recorders.

Many smart home device vendors often do not update and patch software quickly enough to prevent new malware from emerging. The CyberMark standards are expected to clarify which devices must properly patch sensitive software and secure communications to protect privacy, officials said. In addition, critical consumers will be informed about which devices are being used for intrusion detection.

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