One of the most popular home internet router brands in the U.S. could be banned from sale in the country following fears that the routers could present a threat to national security.
According to the Wall Street Journal, three separate U.S. agencies have opened investigations into TP-Link routers. The routers, which account for 65 percent of the U.S. market, are also provided to customers of more than 300 internet service providers.
Per the Wall Street Journal:
“U.S. authorities are investigating whether a Chinese company whose popular home-internet routers have been linked to cyberattacks poses a national-security risk and are considering banning the devices […]”
Investigators at the Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments have opened their own probes into the company, and authorities could ban the sale of TP-Link routers in the U.S. in 2025, according to sources close to the story.
The issue seems to stemp from security flaws which TP-Link has failed to patch. The routers have also been purchased by sensitive government agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Defense Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, while the routers are sold at online military exchanges.
In addition, the Wall Street Journal article has noted that TP-Link routers may have effectively been used as a botnet to carry out cyber attacks on US organizations, including suppliers to the Department of Defense.
An analysis from Microsoft published in October found that a Chinese hacking entity maintains a large network of compromised network devices mostly comprising thousands of TP-Link routers. The network has been used by numerous Chinese actors to launch cyberattacks. These actors have gone after Western targets including think tanks, government organizations, nongovernment organizations, and Defense Department suppliers.
The Justice Department has also begun investigating whether the price discrepancies violate a federal law that prohibits attempts at monopolies by selling products for less than they cost to make, according to an anonymous source. A TP-Link spokeswoman said the company doesn’t sell products below cost and is committed to compliance with U.S. laws, including antimonopoly laws.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and The Wall Street Journal