Connected devices such as streaming boxes, security cameras and other smart home products have become increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals, making device security an important consideration for manufacturers, exporters and buyers. In June 2025, the FBI warned that hackers were exploiting internet-connected devices on home networks through the BADBOX 2.0 botnet, a campaign that turns compromised products into tools for criminal activity and proxy services. The bureau said that many affected devices were manufactured in China, while also cautioning that end-of-life routers and poorly maintained equipment can be hijacked for attacks ranging from fraud to password theft.
That warning has taken on new urgency as Europe moves from responding to cybersecurity incidents to requiring stronger security measures before products reach the market. The European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act was adopted in October 2024 and is designed to establish bloc-wide cybersecurity requirements for digital products, covering how they are designed, developed and maintained. The law applies to connected home cameras, televisions, refrigerators, toys and other products that link directly or indirectly to a device or network, while excluding categories already covered by separate regulations, such as cars, medical devices and aircraft systems.
The compliance timeline is tightening. Reporting obligations for actively exploited vulnerabilities and major security incidents are set to begin on September 11, 2026, with an early warning required within 24 hours and a follow-up report within 72 hours. Most other obligations will take effect in late 2027. Products that do not meet the requirements risk being barred from the EU market because they cannot carry the CE mark, while violations can result in fines of up to €15 million, or 2.5% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher.
For exporters, the stakes are significant. Korea shipped a record $70.1 billion worth of goods to the European Union last year, according to the article’s figures, and the impact of the new regime will extend beyond finished products to supply chains. Components, modules, firmware and software sold separately can fall directly under the rules, while those embedded in larger devices may still create documentation, certification and supplier-management requirements for downstream companies. These requirements could present additional challenges for smaller businesses, including European suppliers already facing rising compliance costs.
The broader lesson is that cybersecurity is no longer solely a technical issue handled by IT teams. It is becoming a product requirement, a supply-chain responsibility and increasingly a condition for market access. As regulators, buyers and consumers place greater emphasis on secure connected products, manufacturers and suppliers will need to integrate cybersecurity into product development and supply-chain management from the outset.
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