Right now, you have no idea if the connected gadget you buy is a security problem waiting to get plugged in. When you buy a new lightbulb, you know that it’s energy efficient and will last for a while because of an Energy Star label on the package. But when you buy an internet-connected lightbulb, there’s almost no way of telling if it’s secure from hackers.
Underwriters Laboratories, the electronics safety organization, is looking to fix that by introducing security ratings for internet-of-things devices. UL is known for its safety standards certifications for products, ensuring, for instance, that the charger you bought online isn’t a counterfeit that’ll set your house on fire.
Article Link – https://www.cnet.com/news/iot-devices-need-security-standards-built-in-ul-says/
Discussion Questions:
- Identify three key takeaways from the article. What did you find most interesting?
- Discuss the five tiers of security ratings proposed by UL for IoT devices. Do you think this will be beneficial for consumers?
- Do you think there is a need for security standards for IoT devices? Why or why not?
Source: Alfred Ng, “IoT devices need built-in security standards, UL says”, www.cnet.com, December 6, 2019.
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