US government mulls entire TP-Link product ban - routers, switches and more
all set to be blocked

Date:
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:16:30 +0000

Description:
The US Government has serious concerns about TP-Link routers.

FULL STORY

The US Government is considering an all-out ban on TP-Link devices, despite
the company's routers supplying roughly 65% of US homes and small businesses. 

A report from the Wall Street Journal noted officials are citing national
security concerns as the cause of the potential ban after the Chinese-made
routers were  bombarded with malware and botnet threats earlier in 2024. 

Known vulnerabilities in TP-Link devices allowed hackers to infect them with
malware and compromise the machines, most commonly using Distributed Denial 
of Service (DDoS) attacks.

TP-Link security risk? 

Looking forward, the departments of Defense, Justice, and Commerce could 
issue a ban on the sale of the routers in the coming months, especially
considering this decision will likely rest with incoming President Trump, who
has signaled strong intentions to take a tough stance on China. 

In 2019, TP-Link supplied only 20% of home routers, but now over 300 US
internet service providers currently issue TP-Link as the default internet
router for home plans, and this number is growing rapidly. The devices are
typically cheaper than competitors, often by over half, making them an
incredibly popular choice. 

The routers arent just for home use either, with federal agencies such as 
NASA and the DEA using the brand, which could leave them exposed to Chinese
state sponsored attacks, although US officials have not yet disclosed any
evidence that TP-Link has allowed or assisted in these botnet attacks. 

Its not uncommon for routers to have vulnerabilities , but the concerns
reportedly come from TP-Links refusal to engage with security researchers. 
The company insists it has taken action to address known vulnerabilities and
assess potential security risks, a spokesperson confirmed. 

We welcome any opportunities to engage with the U.S. government to 
demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry
security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the U.S.
market, U.S. consumers, and addressing U.S. national security risks, a 
TP-Link spokesperson said.

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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-government-mulls-entire-tp-link-prod
uct-ban-routers-switches-and-more-all-set-to-be-blocked

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