Experts recommend updating your devices as soon as possible, as critical vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered. But can you trust your device maker to deliver those updates in the long term? An FTC study suggests no.
D-Link recently said it will not update its multiple end-of-life routers despite them being affected by a recently discovered critical vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute remote code. The company’s response angered some owners, even though some modems are already 15 years old.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) conducted a study of 184 connected products and discovered that nearly 89 percent of the manufacturers’ web pages for these products failed to disclose how long the products would receive software updates.
“For non-connected devices, a product will last until it physically fails. Connected “smart” products, however, rely on software or an accompanying app, or both, to connect to the internet to operate,” the FTC explains.
Connected products without software or app updates become vulnerable to new security threats, lose their smart functionality, or completely cease to function.
Yet buyers cannot find any information on product webpages about how long the devices will be supported in 9 out of 10 cases.
What the FTC found were eye-catching graphics and compelling product highlight videos, including information about price, technical specifications, smart functionality, innovative features that differentiate it from competing devices in the market, and how long the warranty is.
However, 163 out of 184 product webpages reviewed by the FTC’s staff did not disclose the support duration or end date. For the remaining 21 products, support information was not always stated clearly – sometimes, users had to search for it among tech specs or in the FAQ section.
“Some used ambiguous language that only implies the level of support provided, including phrases like, ‘lifetime technical support,’ ‘as long as your device is fully operational,’ and ‘continuous software updates,’ for example,” the FTC noted in the report.
The commission had more luck with a Google search, which revealed the software support information for 60 products out of 184. However, 67% of the devices still lack such information. The information in the search results did not always match the information provided on the manufacturers’ websites.
Similar findings were previously demonstrated by the Consumer Reports study, which analyzed 21 major appliance brands and found that only three inform consumers about how long they guarantee software updates.
The FTC study indicates that policymakers might be considering further action to address the issue of product support transparency.
“Manufacturers’ failure to disclose the duration of their software support commitments warrants further consideration by policymakers and law enforcers,” the FTC said.
The authority also notes that the failure to inform purchasers about the duration of software updates may violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. This law requires manufacturers to provide written warranties before selling products that cost more than $15.
“Manufacturers marketing a device as having certain features and then subsequently failing to provide software updates needed to maintain those features raises concerns about consumer harm resulting from deceptive practices.”
For now, the FTC recommends that buyers consider “if it’s worth the price” before purchasing a smart product and how it will work if the manufacturer stops updating the software.
“For example, a smart light bulb might still work the old-fashioned way, by flipping the switch, but you won’t be able to control it remotely. But if your smart speaker can’t connect to your music streaming service, it’s not very useful,” the FTC said.
The authority also suggests that buyers determine whether the manufacturer offers a trade-in or recycling program for used electronics.
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