Potential TP Link Router Ban In 2025 Could Pull Plug In Your Home
Chances are the very internet router you are using to read this article could be banned next year if the United States government recommends a TP Link router ban next year.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the United States Departments of Commerce, Defense and Justice are mulling over a potential TP Link router ban, accusing the manufacturer of – at the very least – loose security that leads to compromised devices that can be used in cyber attacks. At the most? Potentially bad intentions with direct ties to the Chinese government.
What Is This TP Link Router Ban About? It’s Just WiFi!
Considering that TP Link is the most popular router brand in the United States, this has the potential to be a very big deal. Which leads to the question: why? Why a TP Link router ban?
It comes down to cyber security. The United States government believes that compromised routers are the root cause of major cyberattacks. Devices without proper security protocols can essentially be used, en masse, to attack internet infrastructure. The hacking groups that are behind many cyberattacks are often connected to Government entities.
The feds – and Microsoft – believe that recent cyberattacks were put on by Chinese state actors.
The potential TP Link router ban may have you checking out your router. Their market share is nearly 65 percent in the United States and their products are often much much cheaper than their competitors.
The router manufacturer is fighting back at the accusations, saying there is no proof that their routers are any more or less susceptible to security issues. They stress that the Chinese government does not have any control over the design of their products and that they are proactively attempting to work with the US government to make sure they are in compliance.