Alex Omenye

The White House will introduce a project that enables Americans to find devices that are less susceptible to cyberattacks, together with tech giants like Amazon, Alphabet’s Google, and Best Buy.

The White House in a statement on Tuesday stated that a new certification and labelling programme would elevate the bar for cybersecurity across smart gadgets, including refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, climate control systems, and fitness trackers.

The programme will launch in 2024, and retailers and manufacturers will put a “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark” mark on their products.

According to Reuters, the project aims to make “our networks and the use of them more secure, because it is so important for economic and national security.”

According to the White House, the Federal Communications Commission will solicit public feedback before launching the labelling programme and file for a federal trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The White House released its national cyber policy in March, which urged businesses and software developers to take much greater responsibility for preventing system hacks.

Microsoft and U.S. officials claimed last week that since May, hackers with Chinese state connections have stealthily gained access to email accounts at about 25 different organisations, including at least two U.S. government institutions.