In a recent development in the United States, there is a potential ban on the sale of popular TP-Link routers. According to The Wall Street Journal, three American departments – the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice – are jointly investigating the possible threat to national security posed by devices manufactured by the Chinese company.
TP-Link, a Chinese manufacturer, currently holds a significant 65% share of the American home router market, with its devices being widely used by customers of over 300 internet service providers in the US. These routers are also in use in important federal agencies such as NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as being sold at military exchanges.
Reports from Microsoft suggest that a Chinese hacker group has been utilizing a network of compromised devices, predominantly TP-Link routers, to launch cyber attacks on Western targets. These attacks have targeted various entities including research centers, government and non-governmental organizations, and defense suppliers.
The investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice is also examining a possible violation of antitrust laws, with claims that TP-Link routers may have been sold below cost. A representative from the company has denied these allegations, stating that TP-Link operates in compliance with US laws, including antitrust regulations.
It has been revealed that vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers have been exploited to form botnets that have been used in cyber attacks against American businesses and institutions. A decision on whether to ban the sale of TP-Link products in the US is expected to be made in the upcoming year.