"Massachusetts Aims to Protect Consumers from Obsolete Smart Devices"
In a bid to safeguard consumers, two Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced bills that would require companies to disclose how long they will provide software and security updates for their connected products. The proposed legislation aims to reduce the threat of cybersecurity risks associated with smart devices that no longer receive regular support.
Under the bills, manufacturers would need to clearly inform customers on product packaging and online when a device is approaching its service life's end, and about features that may be lost and potential security vulnerabilities that will arise when regular support ends. This measure is seen as crucial in protecting consumers from becoming victims of malware attacks.
According to advocacy groups such as Consumer Reports and the Secure Resilient Future Foundation, this is an issue that has been growing more pronounced with the increasing use of smart devices in daily life. As a result, these organizations have encouraged lawmakers to support policy measures that would inform customers when their connected products are about to stop working.
In Massachusetts, two bills collectively known as An Act Relative to Consumer Connected Devices were introduced by state senator William Brownsberger and state representative David Rogers. While the bills are still in the early stages of development, supporters hope they will inspire more legislation at the state and federal levels in the near future.
Stacey Higginbotham, a policy fellow at Consumer Reports, emphasized that consumers need awareness about their devices' risks as manufacturers increasingly rely on software updates to keep them secure. "Your product is now connected to a manufacturer by this software tether that dictates how it's going to perform," she noted.
Paul Roberts, president of the Secure Resilient Future Foundation, added that reducing the attack surface against such vulnerable devices is crucial, adding "We cannot prevent it, but we do want to give consumers the awareness that they could be hosting something. Basically, they have an open door that can no longer be locked."
While similar legislation at other levels, including the US House and New York, is pending, advocates believe Massachusetts' initiative serves as a catalyst for broader change.
In a bid to safeguard consumers, two Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced bills that would require companies to disclose how long they will provide software and security updates for their connected products. The proposed legislation aims to reduce the threat of cybersecurity risks associated with smart devices that no longer receive regular support.
Under the bills, manufacturers would need to clearly inform customers on product packaging and online when a device is approaching its service life's end, and about features that may be lost and potential security vulnerabilities that will arise when regular support ends. This measure is seen as crucial in protecting consumers from becoming victims of malware attacks.
According to advocacy groups such as Consumer Reports and the Secure Resilient Future Foundation, this is an issue that has been growing more pronounced with the increasing use of smart devices in daily life. As a result, these organizations have encouraged lawmakers to support policy measures that would inform customers when their connected products are about to stop working.
In Massachusetts, two bills collectively known as An Act Relative to Consumer Connected Devices were introduced by state senator William Brownsberger and state representative David Rogers. While the bills are still in the early stages of development, supporters hope they will inspire more legislation at the state and federal levels in the near future.
Stacey Higginbotham, a policy fellow at Consumer Reports, emphasized that consumers need awareness about their devices' risks as manufacturers increasingly rely on software updates to keep them secure. "Your product is now connected to a manufacturer by this software tether that dictates how it's going to perform," she noted.
Paul Roberts, president of the Secure Resilient Future Foundation, added that reducing the attack surface against such vulnerable devices is crucial, adding "We cannot prevent it, but we do want to give consumers the awareness that they could be hosting something. Basically, they have an open door that can no longer be locked."
While similar legislation at other levels, including the US House and New York, is pending, advocates believe Massachusetts' initiative serves as a catalyst for broader change.
, this is gonna be a wild ride if MA passes these bills 
. Companies are already being super cautious about software updates, but it's still up to consumers to keep their devices secure 
. I mean, who really wants to deal with malware and all that jazz 
? Not me, that's for sure.
. Consumers need to know when their devices are about to become obsolete, so they can make informed decisions about whether to stick with 'em or upgrade 
. It's not about manufacturers being bad, it's just about being responsible 
.
. We need more awareness about cybersecurity, period 
. So, fingers crossed for MA - let's hope these bills make it through unscathed 
!
. hopefully other states & the feds take note & create some bigger changes soon. consumers need to know whats at stake here 
. It's crazy that companies don't have to tell us when their products are gonna stop getting updates. Like, what if my smart coffee maker suddenly stops making coffee because the company stopped supporting it? 
So yeah, I think this is a great step in the right direction. Let's hope other states follow suit 
. It's crazy to think about how outdated some smart devices are now and how that can put us at risk of getting hacked 
. I've got an old smart TV at home that just doesn't get any more updates, it's like a security blanket for hackers 
. We need to know when our devices are done living their best lives so we can upgrade or dispose of them properly. It's all about being informed and taking care of ourselves online 
my aunt had that old router and she was like totally hacked one time and her whole online life was compromised 
and honestly, it's kinda scary how manufacturers can just leave us high and dry when the updates stop 
at least now they have to give consumers some heads up about what's coming 
. It's been like, a no-brainer for ages - companies gotta tell us when our devices are gonna start sucking, and we're just gonna be stuck in the dark with no support to speak of. I mean, come on, these devices are basically little computers, they need updates or they just become security hazards 
. Massachusetts is taking some serious steps here, I'm rooting for them 
. And honestly, I don't even know why it's taken this long - consumers need to be aware of the risks or they'll just keep getting hacked 
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It makes sense that they would want to warn people before they become vulnerable to cyber attacks. And honestly, who doesn't know someone who's had a frustrating experience with a smart device just stopping working? 
.