Swordfish.
In just two years, every internet-connected device produced or sold in California will have to come with a unique password. The Information Privacy: Connected Devices bill, in essence, bans the use of hard-coded device passwords for things like printers or Bluetooth speakers. The bill comes into effect on January 1st, 2020.
The bill basically mandates that any sort of internet connected device made or sold in California come with a unique password by default. Nanny cams, printers, Bluetooth speakers, and other similar wireless devices come with a default password; like 1111 or 12345. These passwords are hard coded in to the device by default, with the intention that you change them upon first use. But oftentimes, people don’t do that, and that leads to widespread security issues. Typically, such devices are ripe for hackers to add to a botnet; the default passwords are either easy to look up, or easily guessed. Remember, everything’s a computer now.
So, on the one hand, it’s actually a sensible solution. On the other hand, it’s probably kind of a massive waste of taxpayer dollars, in more ways than one. Most hardware manufacturers have started doing this, anyway, since it’s in their best interest to look good and “safe” in the public eye. And also, you know, you really should change these passwords yourself when you get one of these things. It would just make everything more secure in the first place.
Source: Engadget
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