These updates are crucial for ensuring that devices function properly and stay secure against potential threats.

FTC staff examined information about 184 different "smart" products, which included hearing aids, security cameras, and door locks, to determine how long companies would provide updates.

According to the FTC Staff Perspective, if manufacturers stop providing software updates, these products could lose their "smart" functionality, become insecure, or cease to operate.

Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Samuel Levine said: “Consumers stand to lose a lot of money if their smart products stop delivering the features they want.”

 “Our study shows that nearly 89 per cent of manufacturers of products we examined failed to post this information prominently or make it readily available. When shopping for smart devices, consumers should ask questions and consider how long their product will last.”

Staff reviewed the manufacturers' product webpages, where consumers might seek detailed information about a connected device, and found that 161 of the products surveyed failed to provide information about the support duration or end date.

Basic internet searches conducted by the staff to determine if consumers could find support duration and end dates for the smart devices surveyed did not uncover this information for two-thirds (124) of the devices.

The staff paper noted that manufacturers' failure to inform prospective purchasers about the duration of software updates for products sold with written warranties may violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

This Act requires that written warranties on consumer products costing more than $15 be made available to prospective buyers prior to sale and requires other disclosures.

Failing to provide software update information to consumers could also violate the FTC Act if manufacturers make express or implied representations about how long the product is usable.