UK Bans Weak Default Passwords, US Introduces Voluntary Cyber Trust Mark Program
The United Kingdom is taking a stand against insecure default passwords. The country has updated its Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Bill, making it illegal for manufacturers to ship devices with easily guessable passwords like “admin” or ”password.” While this legislation doesn’t address all problematic practices, eliminating weak default passwords is a straightforward step that should be taken.
FCC’s Cyber Trust Mark Initiative
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tackling the issue of default passwords with its upcoming Cyber Trust Mark program. Similar to the well-known Energy Star program, products that adhere to the Cyber Trust Mark program’s requirements, including the use of strong default passwords, will bear a distinctive logo.
Voluntary Participation and Consumer Awareness
However, just like Energy Star, participation in the Cyber Trust Mark program is voluntary. Companies are not obligated to comply with its guidelines. Furthermore, while the benefits of Energy Star, such as reduced utility bills, are easily understandable to consumers, it may be more challenging to convey the security risks posed by seemingly harmless devices like smart bulbs connected to a home network. As a result, the effectiveness of the Cyber Trust Mark program, once implemented, remains uncertain.
6 Comments
UK’s move is like discovering fire in cybersecurity, eh? Who knew default passwords were a bad idea!
SapphireG: Oh, the UK’s just figured out default passwords are a hacker’s dream come true? Groundbreaking.
Wrene: It’s not rocket science, folks. Banning default passwords should’ve been day one stuff!
Crimson: Took ’em long enough, didn’t it? Default passwords are like leaving your front door wide open!
About time the UK got on the front line of smart home defense, right?
Finally, some common sense in cybersecurity, about time!