FTC Reviews Security Updates Practices of Eight Mobile Device Manufacturers
The Federal Trade Commission is requiring eight mobile device manufacturers to provide the FTC with information about how they determine to issue security updates to address vulnerabilities in smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. The FTC plans to use these filings to study policies, procedures, and practices used to notify customers and determine whether to provide security updates to mobile devices. The eight companies receiving the orders are Apple, Inc.; Blackberry Corp.; Google, Inc.; HTC America, Inc.; LG Electronics USA, Inc.; Microsoft Corp.; Motorola Mobility, LLC; and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Among other things, the FTC is asking each company to respond to questions about which device models it supports with security updates, how it determines which models receive the updates, and how it communicates that information to consumers.
