The US government is reportedly considering banning a popular brand of Chinese-made home internet routers over concerns that their association with cyberattacks poses a national security risk.
TP-Link, a manufacturer of high-speed cable modems, routers, range extenders, and smart home devices with a 65% market share in the United States, is currently the subject of multiple investigations under the supervision of numerous federal agencies. It becomes. According to the Wall Street Journal.
The Commerce, Defense and Justice Departments have all launched investigations into the company, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.
A ban on sales of TP-Link products could come after President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year, the Journal reported.
According to the report, a division of the Department of Commerce went so far as to issue a subpoena to TP-Link.
According to the report, TP Link is a top choice on Amazon, powering web communications for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.
The company has gained market power by lowering prices, as its routers are cheaper than its competitors, often less than half the price, according to market data.
Concerns about Chinese-made routers surfaced in October after the company released a cybersecurity report that revealed a network of hackers was using compromised devices made by TP-Link.
The report claims that China-based cybercriminals used TP-Link routers to carry out ransomware and other cyberattacks.
According to the magazine, U.S. government investigators believe TP-Link routinely fails to address vulnerabilities in its products shipped to customers who use routers for both home and business use. It is said that there is
It is believed that hackers could exploit the vulnerability to carry out ransomware attacks and other cyber crimes.
According to the magazine, the company refuses to get involved even when cybersecurity experts point out flaws in TP-Link routers.
TP-Link is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and has a law office in California.
“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 addressing U.S. national security risks, We welcome any opportunity to work with the U.S. government,” a spokesperson told the Journal.
The Post has contacted the TP-Link secretariat for comment.
The Biden administration's concerns about Chinese technology and the potential threat it poses to U.S. interests continue to accelerate efforts to restrict imports from the mainland.
The federal government plans to launch a trade investigation into Chinese semiconductors in the coming days, which could result in tariffs and other measures on older models of chips and products containing them. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News.
For the past two years, the administration has restricted exports to China of advanced semiconductors made with technology from the United States and its allies.
According to Bloomberg News, China has responded by producing older and cheaper semiconductors, raising concerns that the global market will be flooded with cheaper chips that will overwhelm competitors in the United States and the West.
The Biden administration announced in May that it would raise tariffs on legacy chips made in China from the current 25% to 50% by next year.
An embassy spokesperson told the Journal that the United States was “suppressing Chinese companies” under the pretext of national security, and that Beijing would “resolutely protect” the interests of Chinese companies.
