Tougher rules for sellers of internet-enabled devices in the UK

Manufacturers will have to follow stricter rules if they want to sell "Smart" gadgets in the UK after a new law came into effect. It is designed to ensure there is better security around devices such as baby monitors, televisions and speakers that are linked to the internet. The government said the laws were a "World first" that would protect UK consumers and businesses and boost the country's resilience against cybercrime. The Department for Science Innovation and Technology said more than half of UK households now had a smart TV and more than half had a voice assistant such as Alexa. Since their adoption there has also been a proliferation of reports of hackers taking over such devices to misuse them, sometimes filming or recording covertly, spying on people, or stealing personal data. "Businesses have a major role to play in protecting the public by ensuring the smart products they manufacture, import or distribute provide ongoing protection against cyber-attacks and this landmark Act will help consumers to make informed decisions about the security of products they buy," she said. Ken Munro a security researcher for Pen Test Partners a firm that carries out ethical hacking against smart devices, described the new law as "a step in the right direction".