The U.S. government is considering banning TP-Link routers, potentially impacting millions of users. This article explores the reasons behind the possible ban, the risks, and recommends alternative router brands to consider.
In December last year, it was revealed that the U.S. government is considering banning TP-Link routers entirely. Much like Huawei back in 2019, the brand might soon all but vanish from the U.S. market — but unlike Huawei, this might turn out to be a huge problem, because TP-Link routers are highly popular all across the country. The fate of these routers is still uncertain, but it’s a good idea to think ahead and potentially replace your existing router.
If you’re buying a new one, it might be better to buy from a different brand. TP-Link is a Chinese company that specializes in making various networking products and smart home devices. It’s the brand behind millions of routers and mesh Wi-Fi systems that are used in the United States every single day. One of its key advantages over many competitors is that its routers are highly affordable; even the latest Wi-Fi 7 models can be scored for as little as . However, the company has found itself on unsteady ground. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Defense, and Commerce are actively looking into TP-Link, with the Commerce Department now subpoenaing the brand. It all stems from alleged links to China-backed cyberattacks, some of which targeted key government organizations and their suppliers as well as companies with no links to the U.S. government. It’s unclear whether TP-Link routers have some specific security flaws that make them more susceptible to cyberattacks than other brands. According to CNET, some security researchers claim that the possible ban might be linked more to the company’s ties to China rather than hardware- or software-related flaws within its devices. Thomas Pace, the CEO of NetRise, a cybersecurity company, told CNET in December: “People expect there to be some smoking gun or something in these devices from Chinese manufacturers, and what you end up finding is the exact same problems in every device. It’s not like the Chinese devices are glaringly insecure. That’s not the risk. The risk is in the corporate structure of every Chinese company.” With that said, the experts that CNET spoke to did agree that TP-Link had some security flaws, but it wasn’t alone — chances are that a router that’s completely immune to hackers simply doesn’t exist. Cybersecurity experts note that these attacks aren’t limited to any single router brand, and devices all over the world may be affected. At this point, there’s no telling whether the ban will go through and what will happen if TP-Link routers are banned. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, TP-Link accounts for as many as 65% of router sales that took place in 2024 in the U.S., so many users could be affected by the ban. Other router brands to try out As it’s still unclear what’s going to happen to TP-Link, there’s no need to throw out your existing router if you already have one. But if the ban does go through, many users will be looking for replacements, and those who don’t currently own a router might want to look into other brands to be extra safe. The good news is that there are a few options to choose from, although there aren’t many which are as affordable as TP-Link tends to be. Let’s check them out. Asus Apart from being known to make routers that look like a cross between a Pokémon and a Transformer, Asus is responsible for some of the best routers on the market, chiefly aimed at gamers. If you want to avoid lag or disconnects during gameplay, Asus’ routers tend to be mighty powerful — but also pretty expensive. The company offers a full range of routers, and while they come with features that gamers appreciate, they can be used at home for any purpose. Some are crazy expensive, such as the Asus RT-BE96U BE19000, priced at , but this is one overkill Wi-Fi 7 router for the most demanding users. It can offer speeds of up to 19Gbps, dual 10Gb WAN/LAN ports, multi-link connection, and 6GHz support. A cheaper option is the Asus RT-AX86U Pro, which is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 gaming router with speeds of up to 5,700Mbps, access to 2Gbps WAN connections and a wired 2.5Gbps port, and a more modest . Being a gaming router, it also serves up some interesting features, such as Adaptive Quality of Service (QoS), which allows you to prioritize traffic toward specific games instead of other uses, such as smart home devices or browsers. Asus does have a bunch of models in the sub-$100 price bracket, but of course, they’re not as impressive as the pricier options. However, the company is widely known as one of the best alternatives to TP-Link due to its high product quality. Netgear Netgear may not be as recognizable to gamers as Asus is, but there are still loads of options to choose from — and much like Asus, the company serves up routers ranging from $6o to $60
TP-Link Router Ban Cybersecurity Netgear Asus Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7
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