Consumers will soon be able to buy electronics with a label indicating that they are protected against digital vulnerabilities.
The White House announced Tuesday the launch of a new brand of US cyber trust, indicating that designated items follow best practices to prevent potential attacks.
According to Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technologiescyber-branded products are expected to hit stores in 2025. The program is similar to Energy Star, the U.S. government-backed symbol that identifies products that are energy efficient, he said.
The proliferation of wirelessly Internet-connected devices, such as cameras and baby monitors, has provided new opportunities for hackers, who have accessed sensitive videos or installed malicious code to become part of a botnet – an army of infected devices that can be used in attacks.
“We can buy a laptop in Paris, France, or Paris, Texas, and plug it into an outlet with confidence that it won’t explode,” Neuberger stated. “However, we lack similar standards for cybersecurity for connected devices, and that has led to a consumer market with billions of smart devices without adequate cybersecurity.”
Federal Communications Commission requested public comments for cybersecurity symbol in 2023 and adopted rules establishing a framework for the voluntary program in March 2024. A second phase of the program is expected to provide the cyber symbol for the routers, Neuberger said.
FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel highlighted the Cyber Trust brand as one of her agency’s biggest accomplishments last yearsaying it “will help consumers make informed purchasing decisions, differentiate trusted products in the market, and create incentives for manufacturers to meet higher cybersecurity standards.”
