Are TP-Link routers a cybersecurity threat?

TP-Link, comfortably established in the global consumer router market, is currently in turmoil in the United States. The Chinese manufacturer is in fact the target of a government investigation for national security risks.

American authorities are closely examining the activities of TP-Linkand could even ban the sale of its products on American territory. The Departments of Commerce, Defense and Justice have launched investigations into the manufacturer suspected of links to cyberattacks of Chinese origin, going so far as to issue a subpoena against the company.

Accusations of lax security and anti-competitive tactics

TP-Link routers and other devices are used by many homes and small businesses, as well as government agencies. The omnipresence of TP-Link products in American infrastructure therefore raises concerns about the possibility of exploitation of vulnerabilities for malicious purposes, or even sophisticated attacks against critical infrastructure.

More precisely, the manufacturer is accused of not taking into account the security vulnerabilities which are regularly reported in its routers. Last October, Microsoft revealed that a hacker group linked to the Chinese government was primarily targeting TP-Link routers. These compromised devices were then used to conduct cyberattacks against Western targets, including think tanks and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

The aggressive prices charged by the manufacturer are also closely scrutinized: the Department of Justice is investigating whether TP-Link sells its products in the United States at a price lower than their production cost, a practice that could violate antitrust laws. American. It must be said that the dominant position of TP-Link (with 65% share of the American market) is the result of a low price strategy led by the manufacturer, with products often significantly cheaper than its direct competitors like D- Link or Netgear.

Also read: Test of the TP-Link Deco XE75: the Wi-Fi 6E mesh router with the right quality/price ratio

TP-Link swept away by geopolitical tensions?

If current investigations confirm these accusations, the consequences for TP-Link could be disastrous on the American market: the authorities there could outright ban the sale of its routers. The hard line adopted by the new Trump administration towards Chinese companies also risks weighing in the balance; The potential ban on TP-Link could be part of a broader trend of trade and geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.

Faced with these accusations, TP-Link has of course tried to defend itself, saying it is willing to work with the US government to prove that its security practices meet industry standards. The manufacturer even moved its headquarters to the United States in an attempt to dissociate its brand image from the Chinese government. For its part, the Chinese embassy in Washington denounced an action by the White House aimed at “ remove Chinese companies ».