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U.S. officials are flaunting the idea of an outright ban on the sales of a popular internet router – a device that is sitting in many homes.
The investigation comes as concerns have mounted over cybersecurity risks connected with router manufacturer TP-Link Technology Co. The device is listed as a best seller on Amazon, with prices ranging from $50 to $100 for most models.
Established in China, but sourced from a California headquarters, the TP-Link router use has sparked several probes into possible Chinese interference through cyberattacks launched from the devices.
The U.S. company claims that it unaffiliated with the China company and its products are assembled in Vietnam. It also asserts that its devices are safe for users.
Several federal agencies, such as the Commerce, Defense and Justice departments, are investigating the product and the company behind it. All are looking at if the devices pose a security risk and could suggest a ban as soon as 2025, sources recently told The Wall Street Journal.
An office within the U.S. Department of Commerce has already reportedly subpoenaed TP-Link for information, added the sources.
An analysis launched by Microsoft in October discovered that a Chinese hacking entity was maintaining a large network of compromised network devices – most of which included thousands of compromised TP-Link routers, wrote the WSJ.
Hackers were discovered to have targeted Western organizations such as think tanks, government organizations, not-for-profits, and defense department suppliers, through the TP-Link network, reported the outlet.
But this is not the first time officials have expressed concerns over Chinese interference orchestrated through TP-Link. In August, U.S. lawmakers, Republican Representative John Moolenaar of Michigan and Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, urged the Biden administration to probe the TP-Link company for potential security risks.
The TP-Link router reportedly accounts for 65 percent of the U.S. market and is widely used by homeowners and businesses – even federal government agencies, according to the Journal. However, TP-Link officials say their market share is around 12 percent.
Though it is not immediately clear whether the ban will come into force, it will likely be handled by the Trump administration in the New Year if found to breach national security.
A TP-Link spokesperson provided a statement after hte report.
“However, contrary to claims of widespread vulnerabilities, comparative data places TP-Link on par with, or in some cases ahead of, other major industry players in terms of security outcomes. For example, public vulnerability data (sourced from recognized security repositories like CVE Details and VulDB) shows that TP-Link’s rate of vulnerabilities per product is significantly lower than those of other leading manufacturers. While vulnerability severity is important, we consistently address issues promptly. Those same sources show our average CVSS score—an industry-standard metric for vulnerability severity—is in line with other leading router and IoT manufacturers,” the company said in a statement to The Independent.
Fears over Chinese devices and companies backed by the Asian powerhouse are nothing new. Last year, President Joe Biden signed legislation that would ban the use of TikTok in the U.S. – if parent ByteDance fails to sell it ahead of January 19.
The ban on TikTok came as officials were wary of the Chinese government being able to access sensitive U.S. user data through the app.
ByteDance has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case just days before the ban begins.
Trump has also targeted China as a threat to the U.S. economy and jobs. He has suggested further tariffs – to the tune of 10 percent on top of what already exists – on China’s products coming into the U.S. The president-elect has said the tariffs are needed to stop drug flow into the U.S. and help American companies compete with Chinese manufacturers.
This article has been amended to better clarify who stated that federal agencies were looking at the routers. The article has also been updated about TP-Link’s operations and relationship with a Chinese company.
