UMD Joins $10M Smart Home Security Research Initiative

Three Maryland universities—including the University of Maryland—are joining a seven-institution research consortium tackling one of the nation's fastest-growing cybersecurity challenges: protecting consumers' smart home devices and data. The Security and Privacy in the Lifecycle of IoT for Consumer Environments (SPLICE) initiative, launched with $10 million in funding from the National Science Foundation's Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace Frontiers program, represents a significant boost to cybersecurity research and education across the state.

Dartmouth University is organizing and leading the effort, which brings together leading research institutions to develop practical solutions for a problem affecting millions of American households. As smart devices proliferate—from security cameras and thermostats to voice assistants and connected appliances—consumers face mounting risks of data breaches, privacy violations, and unauthorized access. SPLICE aims to shift the paradigm away from the traditional "notice and consent" model of privacy management that has left consumers confused and vulnerable.

The consortium plans to produce a comprehensive toolkit that will give residents unprecedented visibility into the smart devices connected to their home networks. Researchers will also develop new tools designed to identify privacy vulnerabilities before they become exploitable security threats. For Maryland's technology sector and educational institutions, the initiative offers opportunities to advance workforce development in cybersecurity and position the state as a leader in consumer protection innovation.

Work on SPLICE officially begins October 1, signaling the start of what researchers expect to be a transformative multi-year effort to make smart homes safer for millions of Americans.