Anicet Mbida 6:53 am, November 29, 2021

Every day, Anicet Mbida makes us discover an innovation that could well change the way we consume.

This Monday, he is interested in a novelty in cybersecurity.

This is a bill that requires every device to have, from the factory, a unique password that hackers will no longer be able to guess.

This Monday, Anicet Mbida is interested in cybersecurity.

With a bill that promises to ban default passwords in connected devices.

When you buy a wifi hotspot, surveillance camera or network printer, some manufacturers use a default password.

Usually "Admin", "Password" or "123456".

Problem, many of us don't change this password.

The device can be hacked very easily.

It is far from being anecdotal.

According to the latest report from Symantec (a cybersecurity specialist), 55% of connected devices use 123456 as their password.

More than half !

This law requires each device to have, from the factory, a unique password that hackers will no longer be able to guess.

It also requires automating updates as soon as a security breach is discovered, protecting access to user data, etc. In short, considering security from the design stage, rather than focusing only on news functions.

And what do you risk if you don't follow the rules?

A marketing ban and a fine of 11 million euros or 4% of its worldwide turnover.

Something to think about.

It is no longer possible to leave all the responsibility on the user.

The manufacturer also becomes liable.

There is just one clarification: this bill has just been presented to the English parliament and not French or European.

We could perhaps be inspired by it.

However, there was recently a law on cybersecurity.

Hasn't the domestic appliances component been addressed?

No.

We focused on critical infrastructure (administration, hospitals, communications, etc.).

An amendment is planned.

It should target connected objects more precisely.

But we don't have any details yet.

There is, however, urgency.

In the first six months of 2021, there were 1.5 billion attacks against connected objects.

Twice as many as last year (Kaspersky Labs).

Home devices are today's cybersecurity blind spot.