Cyber security has been a legislative concern for the last two decades or so and the latest addition to this concern is the newly emergent concept of internet of things, often known as IoT. Recently, a group of senators decided to introduce a legislation so as to address the vulnerable points in computing devices that frequent everyday objects occurring due to the presence of IoT.
As far as the bill is concerned, it is supposed to ensure that vendors who provide any equipment concerning internet connectivity has to ensure patchable products and follow the security standards recommended by the legislation. If any vendor provides instruments with unchangeable configurations or contain any vulnerable point of security, that vendor will suffer duly in the hands of the government.
Support from all sides
While the US senate has been divided over many matters, it is here they seem to have found some opinion worth agreeing as they have voiced support for the legislation together. Apparently, the legislation accompanying the bill is going to be released pretty soon and the bill has already been drafted with inputs from various corners including the Atlantic council.
However, the senators confirm that this is no method to constrict the market by any means and they have gone easy with the vendors as long as they are conforming to the fundamental guidelines. Else, the vendors themselves may suffer in the future with major failures in the technology market.
Having faith in hackers
Hackers are not to be trusted- goes the saying around the internet. However, to understand the volatile points of security in the system, the legislation has kept room for ethical hackers and also, federal agencies have the independence of buying non-complaint devices as long as certain controls are firmly present in the device. Nowadays, there are so many devices that are connected online that the security question is paramount.
Even a decade ago, many devices such as home appliances, speakers and cars were considered as offline objects. But, the internet revolution has changed every equation out there and hence, hackers on the prowl consider these ever expanding sets of gadgets new preys to pounce upon at sight.
The question keeps getting bigger
Apparently, around 30 billion devices will be connected via the enormous web of internet of things and obviously, security will not be uniform across these devices. So, the legislation is an attempt to ensure some amount of security so that no tom-dick-harry can produce and sell such equipment. In fact, the amount of visual data that circulates insecurely is surely a headache for most states.
Webcams, for example, can easily be hacked and digital records are accessed within minutes even across desktops. Such a situation already took place when Twitter, PayPal and many other big names in the internet went offline due to an immense attack. Needless to say, such attacks will increase as IoT spreads its wings. Given the legislation is firmly reasonable, there is no reason why it should not succeed to throw a blanket of security over the ever-growing concern.