According to the Wall Street Journal, various US authorities are investigating TP-Link routers, linking them to Chinese-backed cyberattacks. The Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense are conducting their own investigations, and sources told the newspaper that the Commerce Department has subpoenaed TP-Link. These investigations could contribute to a potential ban on these routers next year.
In September, the magazine reported on a wave of Chinese cyberattacks in the United States that involved many TP-Link routers. The attackers targeted government organizations and suppliers to the Department of Defense, as well as NGOs and think tanks.
TP-Link currently holds about 65% of the U.S. market for small business and home routers. They are also widely used by the Department of Defense and NASA. But sources told the magazine that the devices often come with security flaws, and that the company is not addressing these issues or cooperating with the security community.
“We welcome any opportunity to engage with the U.S. government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully compliant with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our continued commitment to the U.S. market, U.S. consumers, and to eliminating risks to U.S. national security,” a TP-Link spokesperson told the WSJ.
If TP-Link routers are banned, it will be the largest seizure of Chinese telecommunications equipment in the United States since the Huawei ban in 2019.
