A bill is making its way through Parliament that will see new laws to keep consumers’ phones, tablets, smart TVs, fitness trackers and other devices secure from online criminals.

It will place new cyber security requirements on the manufacturers and sellers of consumer tech which can connect to the internet or other devices.

Under the bill, easy-to-crack default passwords which come programmed into digital devices will be banned.

Manufacturers will also have to be more transparent to customers about the length of time products will receive security updates for connectable products and create a better public reporting system for vulnerabilities that are later discovered.

Any failures could result in fines ​​of up to £10 million or four per cent global turnover, as well as up to £20,000 per day in the case of an ongoing breach.

The bill applies to ‘connectable’ products. This includes all devices which can access the internet such as smartphones, smart TVs, games consoles, security cameras and alarm systems, smart toys and baby monitors, smart home hubs and voice-activated assistants, and smart home appliances such as washing machines and fridges.

It also applies to products which can connect to multiple other devices but not directly to the internet. Examples include smart light bulbs, smart thermostats and wearable fitness trackers.

If you want to discuss security measures regarding online business fraud for your business, contact one of our team today for an update on free resources and membership enquiries@nebrcentre.co.uk