Federal agencies are investigating TP-Link, a Chinese company that leads the U.S. market for home and small business routers, over concerns that its devices could compromise national security. Sources indicate that the Commerce Department has issued a subpoena to TP-Link, and officials are considering banning the company’s products.
TP-Link holds a commanding 65% share of the U.S. router market, due in part to its low prices. However, Microsoft reported in October that compromised TP-Link routers were part of a network used by Chinese hackers to attack Western entities, including government contractors and NGOs.
BREAKING: @FBI Director Christopher Wray announcement live at our hearing:
“Just this morning we announced an operation where we and our partners identified hundreds of routers that had been taken over by the PRC state-sponsored hacking group known as Volt-Typhoon.” pic.twitter.com/XhLVB3jMHm
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) January 31, 2024
The Department of Commerce, along with the Defense and Justice Departments, has raised concerns about the security flaws in TP-Link devices. Critics claim the company ships routers with vulnerabilities and fails to work with researchers to fix them, leaving users exposed to cyber threats.
Sources: US officials are investigating Chinese router maker TP-Link, which has an estimated 65% US market share, and could ban the sale of its routers in 2025 (Wall Street Journal)https://t.co/BGj7zjtyeUhttps://t.co/uUfnKh32LIhttps://t.co/ZOzeer2dpR
— Techmeme (@Techmeme) December 18, 2024
The Biden administration’s scrutiny of TP-Link has increased following breaches by the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon. While the company’s routers were not directly implicated in those incidents, the breaches have accelerated federal investigations into TP-Link’s practices.
TP-Link has stated it is committed to addressing security issues and cooperating with U.S. officials. A company spokeswoman emphasized their dedication to adhering to industry standards and mitigating risks.
US could ban Chinese-made TP-Link routers over hacking fears: report https://t.co/4dsdky4qDk pic.twitter.com/YtJi9MhIVh
— New York Post (@nypost) December 18, 2024
BREAKING: FBI says it has taken down a large botnet of malware installed by Chinese hackers on hundreds of routers inside the US in an effort to get access to infrastructure. FBI says it used search and seizure warrants to remotely delete the malware-without notifying device… pic.twitter.com/5uUbsKn8dX
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) January 31, 2024
If banned, TP-Link’s removal from the U.S. market would mark the largest exclusion of Chinese telecom equipment since the U.S. restricted Huawei components five years ago.
