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Governor Signs South Coast Lawmaker's Bill To Protect Smart Devices From Cyberattacks

A bill by a state lawmaker from the South Coast that’s aimed at protecting smart devices from being hacked has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

AB 1906, authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin of Thousand Oaks, requires manufacturers to equip smart devices with a security feature to prevent cyberattacks.

She says with the growing reliance on such devices, the threat that unsecure devices pose to people, businesses and the state looms large. And that’s why she says securing devices is critical.

The bill allows for a flexible security requirement to take into account that smart devices can vary widely.

The law will go into effect on January 1, 2020, to give manufacturers time to meet this new requirement.