Smart home
Connected devices, secured.
What the FTC says to do with every smart device, and where the FCC’s Cyber Trust Mark actually stands.
Status, September 2026
Don’t expect to see the Cyber Trust Mark yet
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What the Cyber Trust Mark is
The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark is the FCC's voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for consumer wireless smart devices, also called Internet of Things (IoT) products.
Source: FCC, news release (April 2026)
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Planned label and QR code
The FCC's 2024 plan called for a label with the Cyber Trust Mark and a QR code linking to a product registry with security information.
Source: FCC, Fact Sheet: Cybersecurity Labeling for Internet of Things (February 2024)
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First administrator stepped down
UL Solutions, the program's first Lead Administrator, withdrew effective December 19, 2025.
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New lead administrator named
On April 13, 2026, the FCC named ioXt Alliance the program's new Lead Administrator.
Source: FCC, news release (April 2026)
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Status as of August 2026
As of August 11, 2026, the label administrators the FCC had conditionally approved still weren't authorized to approve any product's use of the label.
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Tied to future standards
Label administrators have to get accredited within six months after the FCC adopts the program's cybersecurity labeling standards and testing procedures.
Secure every device
The FTC’s guidance here is from August 2022.
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Start with the router
The FTC says your router is the key to smart home privacy, since your connected devices likely reach the internet through it.
Source: FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022)
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Basic steps for each device
The FTC says to change default usernames and passwords, turn on two-factor authentication when it's offered, keep firmware updated, and turn off features you don't use.
Source: FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022)
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Baby, pet and security cams
The FTC says many IP cameras are vulnerable to snooping, and suggests checking the camera's access logs for unfamiliar IP addresses or odd access times.
Source: FTC Consumer Advice, Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (August 2022)