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European Commission Ponders Security Labels for IoT | EurActiv.com

The web site EurActiv.com is reporting that the European Commission (EC) is getting ready to propose new legislation to protect machines from cybersecurity breaches. Among the steps they’re considering: labels for Internet-connected devices that tell consumers they are “approved and secure.” Products across industries from energy and consumer goods to automotive and healthcare could eventually be required to use the labels on their products, just as electrical devices currently contain labels that inform consumers how much power they use, EU officials said. Digital policy chiefs Günther Oettinger and Andrus Ansip presented a plan three weeks ago to speed up internet connections to meet the needs of big industries like car manufacturing and agriculture as they gradually use more internet functions. But lawmakers recognize that the transition to more and faster internet connections has caused many companies to worry that new products and industrial tools that rely on the internet will be more vulnerable […]

Research Raises More Alarms on Connected Home Products

In-brief: A new study by BitDefender suggests that security lapses dampen the appeal of smart home appliances and could (literally) open the door to burglars.

NEST Thermostat-BlackHat

Report: Princeton Finds Security Flaws In Range Of Internet Of Things Devices

In-brief: researchers at Princeton researched the security of a wide range of connected devices – including smart hubs and a connected picture frame. They found lots to worry about. 

Toymaker Hack Highlights Dark Side of Tech Industry’s Data Obsession

In-brief: The hack of VTech, a maker of technology products for children, has exposed sensitive data on hundreds of thousands of children, the company acknowledged this week. Also exposed: the toy industry’s growing and unregulated appetite for information on the children who play with their toys.

Video: Ross Anderson on the Internet of Bad Things

In-brief: Ross Anderson of Cambridge University discusses the privacy and security risks of The Internet of Things at the Virus Bulletin Conference. Problems we already confront – such as ATM and mobile device security – may presage more widespread attacks on the IoT.