The UK Government has approved a Code of Practice to strengthen security of connected devices such as smartwatches, virtual assistants, and toys. This is the result of a ‘Secure by Design’ review, carried out by the DCMS and by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) between Q1 2018 and Q3 2018. The new Code of Practice outlines 13 guidelines that manufacturers of consumer devices should implement into their product’s design to keep consumers safe. This includes secure storage of personal data, regular software updates to make sure devices are protected against emerging security threats, no default passwords, and making it easier for users to delete their personal data off the product. HP, Centrica, and Samsung have so far subscribed to the code.
