The US House of Representatives has passed bills extending liability protection for companies that share information about cyber attacks.

Businesses will be able to pass details of cyber threats to each other and the Government without fearing legal action.

The legislation still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has adopted 12 cyber-security principles aimed at protecting US consumers from breaches.

They identify safeguards regulators expect insurers to have in place, including employee training and incident response planning.

“These principles will serve as the foundation for protection of sensitive consumer information held by insurers… and guide regulators who oversee the insurance industry,” association President Monica Lindeen said.