‘Smart’ toys can be hacked too easily, say ministers

TOYS that connect to the internet must have far better security features to prevent them being used by criminals to access British homes, the Government has said.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport yesterday announced new guidelines and a code of practice for manufacturers as part of a review aimed at boosting the cyber security of smart devices.

Smart devices can be connected to a householder’s personal computer, meaning criminals could potentially use them to access the sensitive personal and financial data held on it.

The National Cyber Security Centre has repeatedly highlighted the UK’S vulnerability to cyber attack, including the scope for toys to be taken over remotely. Dr Ian Levy, the centre’s technical director, has demonstrated how a “smart” child’s doll could be hacked to open a front door in seconds.

The Government will today recommend that manufacturers build better security protections into smart devices, including removing the opportunity for hackers to reset devices to factory settings.

They will also suggest that sensitive data is encrypted and that software should be automatically updated.

The manufacture of internet-connected devices, ranging from fridges and home speakers to kettles and lightbulbs, has grown in recent years.

UK households are expected to be home to more than 420million devices by 2020 – equivalent to roughly 15 per household. Last year the Wikileaks website leaked documents detailing how UK spy agencies and the CIA used smart televisions to spy on people.

Commenting on the new security measures, Margot James, the minister for digital and the creative industries, said: “We have worked alongside industry to develop a tough new set of rules so strong security measures are built into everyday technology from the moment it is developed.”

Which?, the consumer group, has issued concerns over the vulnerabilities of smart products. At Christmas it warned parents about the ease with which hackers could take over smart toys to talk directly to children.