US could ban Chinese-made TP-Link routers over hacking fears: report
The US government is weighing a ban on a popular brand of Chinese-made home-internet routers over fears that their links to cyberattacks pose a national security risk, according to a report.TP-Link, the manufacturer of high-speed cable modems, routers, range extenders and smart home devices that has grabbed a 65% market share in the United States, is currently the subject of several investigations being overseen by a number of federal agencies, according to the Wall Street Journal.The Departments of Commerce, Defense and Justice have all opened probes into the company, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.A ban on sales of TP-Link products could come sometime next year — after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the Journal reported.A division of the Commerce Department has even gone so far as to issue a subpoena to TP-Link, according to the report.TP Link the top choice on Amazon, and powers web communications for the Defense Department and other federal agencies, according to the report.The company has won market dominance partly through lower prices, as its routers are cheaper than competitors — often by more than half, according to market data.
Concerns over Chinese-made routers came to the fore in October when Microsoft published a cybersecurity report which found that a network of hackers uses compromised devices manufactured by TP-Link.The report alleged that Chinese-based cyber criminals used routers made by TP-Link to launch ransomware and other cyber attacks.US government investigators believe that TP-Link routinely fails to address vulnerabilities in their products that are then shipped to customers who use the routers for both home and business purposes, according to the Journal.Hackers are then able to exploit the vulnerabilities to carry out ransomware attacks and other cyber crimes, it has been alleged.When cybersecurity experts point out the flaws in TP-Link routers, the company declines to engage with them, according to the J...