The US government is weighing the ban on TP Wrinkle Routers, but I’m not in a hurry to replace mine

Wi-Fi routers usually don’t spend much time on Limelight, but TP-Link has been the exception for the past six months. Currently, three US sectors are investigating the company into the relationship between China’s cyberattacks and potential predatory pricing. It’s a lot of bad news, but it wasn’t enough for me to buy a new one Wi-Fi router still.

I have been covering the internet world for over 6 years, and have used a TP-Link router twice in the past. Honestly, I can say I’ve never had any problems with it – minimal buffering, solid range, and no stopping (I was able to blame the router anyway). In a recent round of Wi-Fi router testing, TP-Link was brilliantly executed and won the Editor’s Choice Award The best budget router.

Navigating personally and for readers has been a troubling issue. Can you honestly recommend a company facing a potential ban in the US? Is my own data at risk? Do I need to replace the router?

These questions began to swirl in my head on December 28th, 2024. Reported by the Wall Street Journal The US government is weighing the ban on TP Wrinkle routers due to its connection to several well-known Chinese cyber attacks. Three months later, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois; I lifted the TP-Link router I told Congress, “Don’t use this.”

A representative from TP-Link vehemently denied me that the company had ties to the Chinese government. However, Chinese company records and government announcements have been made by the company. China still employs around 11,000 people.

When the news broke, I I asked four cybersecurity experts. Whether to use a TP-Link router. One gave a strong “no”, the other said there was a “consumer risk”, and two refused to answer questions directly.

If you spend time shopping for Wi-Fi routers, you will notice that TP-Link routers are often cheaper than their competitors. The Department of Justice is investigating whether these low prices violate federal laws that prohibit businesses from selling products at a price less than they cost. Recent Bloomberg Reports. Of the 32 routers we tested for recent reviews, the TP-Link accounted for eight of the nine cheapest models.

“TP-Link Systems Inc. has not been investigated by the Department of Justice on these issues,” a TP-Link representative said in a statement. “We don’t sell our products below cost, we maintain a policy of transparency in our business practices and ensure fair pricing for our valued customers.”

I did not consider the pending investigation of our tests, and I felt it was important to evaluate TP-Link in its own merits. After all, according to the journal report, it accounts for around 65% of router sales last year.

Ultimately, I decided to include the TP-Link Deco X55 Pro as a pick for my budget router. This is the only router with above average performance under $100, and we thought it was important to provide our readers with a cheap option to get the job done.

in the end, Use a TP-Link router I and I have no plans to replace it. Privacy and security are important to me, but I never lose sleep due to TP-Link issues. I know I follow some basics Best Practices for Network Security It gives you a sense of security, but it is also a matter of risk tolerance.

Itay Cohen was one of the authors of the 2023 report Firmware implants have been identified A TP-Link router linked to a hacking group sponsored by the Chinese state. He told me In a previous interview Similar implants were found in devices manufactured worldwide.

“I don’t think there’s entirely enough public evidence to support avoiding routers from China,” Cohen said. “The vulnerabilities and risks associated with routers are primarily systematic and apply to a wide range of brands, including those manufactured in the US.”

In my opinion, TP-Link is at a higher risk. If smoke is three separate federal investigations, there is probably a fire somewhere, but not necessarily individually. Hacks related to TP-Link use hijacked routers to target think tanks, government organizations, non-governmental organizations and Department of Defense suppliers.

Cybersecurity experts have recommended that you follow a few basic steps, regardless of the type of router you are using. Make sure your firmware is up to date and use strong login credentials to VPN Services.

We will continue to update our Wi-Fi router recommendations as we learn new information about our TP-Link surveys. Now I still feel comfortable recommending them.