IT House December 21 news, the British government today introduced a new bill to Parliament called the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (PSTI), which aims to strengthen the security of connected devices such as smartphones, TVs, speakers, toys and more.
The bill includes banning common default passwords, exposing businesses to customers what they're doing to address security vulnerabilities, and creating better public reporting systems for vulnerabilities in those devices.
Commenting on the new bill, UK Minister of Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure Julia Lopez said:
Every day hackers try to break into people's smart devices. Most of us agree that if a product is for sale, it is safe. However, this is not the case, which puts too many of us at risk of fraud and theft.
Our bill will set up firewalls for everyday technology ranging from phones and thermostats to dishwashers, baby monitors and doorbells, and impose hefty fines on those who violate strict new security standards.
IT House understands that the UK government says the bill also allows broadband and mobile network operators to upgrade and share infrastructure, meaning customers can get faster and more reliable connections faster. With this legislation, different companies can share infrastructure without having to engage landowners in lengthy legal battles to install their infrastructure.
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