If bread is wheat bread, then it can be white bread colored with molasses. No Federal law says what the expression "surge protector" means. Many even have completely different definitions of a surge. Some call a surge only a few volts increase or decrease. Is a surge a voltage increase or a current increase? Some say a surge is current going from 0 amps to 1 amp in light bulb. Even USB ports have surge protection that has nothing to do with voltage. USB surge protection is about too many milliamps.so how can they sell this with a logo on the front saying "surge protector"
Any name not defined (framed) by spec numbers is how scams get promoted. A company may sell "Old Fashion Whole Wheat Bread". By adding words, then it does not have to be whole wheat bread. Nothing is known without hard facts and numbers. The expression "surge protector" is a subjective expression. Since you did not have a tidal flood, then a "surge protector" did its job? As ridiculous as that sounds, it is also a very legal defense. The term "surge protector" is only subjective. So it can mean almost anything.
Multiple types of surges exist. A protector adjacent to appliances only claims to protect from a type of surge that should be made irrelevant by circuits already inside electronics. See its spec numbers. Protectors used in facilities that can never have damage are for all types of surges. Including the typically destructive type. Those relevant protectors have a low impedance connection to earth. No way around that requirement.