By 2020, it might be illegal for you use a weak digital password.
The California legislature has passed a law that sets higher security standard for all Internet-connected devices made or sold in the region. Under the new law, each gadget must be given a unique password when it is made. According to ITProPortal.com, the Information Privacy Connected Devices bill requires that all electronics manufacturers equip their devices with “reasonable” security features.
America’s digital goddess Kim Komando says it is a good idea.
“When you buy a device, it comes with a default password. But the problem is you can go to a default web site like routerpasswords.com and type in your make and model and it says, ‘Ah, here’s how you get to the admin section of the router, here’s how you change the password and once you are in the admin section of the router, that’s where you can so all sorts of things, up to and including open source, that’s where hackers can get in, and so up until now, we haven’t had too much security there.”
She says it’s necessary for digital security.
“A friend of mine who’s with the American Bar Association and one of the folks who’s behind said, ‘You know what? We’ve got to get manufacturers on board. We don’t sell cars without seat belts, yet we’re selling electronics without the equivalent.’ “
Kim Komando was a guest on McIntyre in the Morning.
By Sandy Wells
KABC News