US Senators introduce bill to secure Internet of Things devices

    US Senators introduce bill to secure Internet of Things devices


    Posted: 01 Aug 2017
    The bill would also expand legal protections for security researchers who hunt for vulnerabilities.

    A bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation aimed at securing internet-connected smart devices, which were at the center of a massive cyberattack that brought down large swathes of the internet last year.

    The distributed denial-of-service in October lasted for less than a day, but it further fueled concerns about threats posed by insecure and easily hijacked so-called Internet of Things (IoT) devices, thanks to an industry-wide apathy toward supplying devices with even the most basic security.

    The new bill, introduced by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), will require suppliers of devices to the federal government to adhere to a level of industry-wide security practices, such as ensuring that devices, like wearables and smart sensors, can be patched with security fixes. The bill will prohibit devices from including hard-coded and unchangeable usernames and passwords, long seen as one of the primary ways malware can break in and hijack devices...


    Read more: Senators introduce bill to secure Internet of Things devices | ZDNet
    Brink's Avatar Posted By: Brink
    01 Aug 2017



  1. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #1

    It's about time someone is moving on security for IoT items.
    I have been preaching for this for a long time. Anything that can and or does access the net needs security.

    Jack
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #2

    Amazing.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #3

    About time? It's past time! The industry should have done this themselves without the Government having to step in.
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  4. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #4

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    About time? It's past time! The industry should have done this themselves without the Government having to step in.
    This is exactly the reason why I won't have any "Smart" devices in my home. Until these IOT devices are secured - I'm not interested. I can still do the same things I've been doing for the last 40 years I've been on this planet, without them.
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  5. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #5

    Brds7t7 said:
    This is exactly the reason why I won't have any "Smart" devices in my home. Until these IOT devices are secured - I'm not interested. I can still do the same things I've been doing for the last 40 years I've been on this planet, without them.
    I agree (although I can only wish I could still do the things I could do even 20 years ago, let alone 40). The idea behind IOT is great but the implementation stinks!
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  6. Posts : 1,797
    Win 7 Ultimate, Win 8.1 Pro, Linux Mint 19 Cinnamon (All 64-Bit)
       #6

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    I agree (although I can only wish I could still do the things I could do even 20 years ago, let alone 40). The idea behind IOT is great but the implementation stinks!
    Completely agree. Any device I have which connects to the Internet l make sure is behind a firewall. Even my phones, tablets have firewalls installed on them. Not saying they're 100% secure. But I'd rather run them with than without.

    And I don't need a fridge to connect to the Internet to order milk to my door. If I need milk, I do what humans have been doing since we learned to use our legs - I WALK (not drive) to my local shop which is 5 minutes away. Humans are just getting lazier (and more unsociable) and we're doing it at the expense of our own privacy unfortunately.

    The only times I see these devices as helpful is if a person has problems with mobility. But they definitely need to be secured.
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  7. Posts : 4,049
    W7 Ultimate SP1, LM19.2 MATE, W10 Home 1703, W10 Pro 1703 VM, #All 64 bit
       #7

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    About time? It's past time! The industry should have done this themselves without the Government having to step in.
    Spending money on security would eat into the CEO's bonuses.
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  8. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #8

    lehnerus2000 said:
    Spending money on security would eat into the CEO's bonuses.
    Oh, the poor things!
      My Computer


 

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