TP Link routers possible ban

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DogLover

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I know we have discussed TP Link routers here a few times. This recent article caught my attention and I thought I would share.


engadget.com router link

AI summary:
The U.S. government is considering banning TP-Link routers due to national security concerns, backed by multiple agencies, including Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense. Investigations into TP-Link's ties to China have been ongoing, despite the company splitting from its parent, TP-Link Technologies, in 2022. The concern is that, under Chinese law, TP-Link could be forced to comply with Chinese intelligence requests, potentially including the delivery of malicious software updates. TP-Link denies these allegations, asserting it is independent of the Chinese government.


The company holds a significant share of the U.S. market—up to 60%, according to former U.S. cybersecurity officials—raising additional concerns over its influence. The potential ban is also seen as a bargaining chip in ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations.
 
Maybe the US government will respond by forcing a sale of TP-Link, a la TikTok, or simply buying into the company, like Intel or Nippon Steel.
 
terry274 said:
The U.S. government is considering banning TP-Link routers
Click to expand...
In case anyone has a TP-Link router, don't worry, your router isn't going anywhere. Any "ban" would just apply to sales of them in the US in the future. I have a TP-Link router myself but only bought it about a year ago and we tend to keep ours for 4+ years. When these stories came up months ago, the thought of trashing ours and buying another one crossed my mind, but I decided against it.
 
Hall said:
In case anyone has a TP-Link router, don't worry, your router isn't going anywhere. Any "ban" would just apply to sales of them in the US in the future. I have a TP-Link router myself but only bought it about a year ago and we tend to keep ours for 4+ years. When these stories came up months ago, the thought of trashing ours and buying another one crossed my mind, but I decided against it.
Click to expand...
IF a ban ever comes out, it's already on my mind to go buy one before they are not available. Though you will always be able to buy them overseas. However the warrantee may not be valid here like certain cell phones are not. I like their products, have used on and off for decades (?) Currently have an Archer C4000 right now. Might be enough for the rest of my life, stupid reliable as always, range incredible as always.
If there was an American equal in the price range I would most likely buy it. Consumer reports recently rated some American products highly, (Asus) actually at the top of ratings. I posted that somewhere in this forum. They also commented about TP_Link controversy that they are not pulling their recommendation for them, still nothing has been proven and other PC type magazines still rate them highly. Bottom line it seems with all these routers, including USA brands. You are the product as far as information sharing data. Not by name but much like web browsers.

Yeah, China IS our enemy yet most until D-DAY no one will care, including all the corporations we buy our products from. Bad actors also invade routers of all brands. However, like lets say Android, the biggest systems are the ones they are after maybe

It is good that someone in Washington is finally addressing things. However it needs to be broad spectrum and Americans willing to pay the price for that.
 
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Our previous two routers were Asus and that's probably who I'd go back to for our next one. I chose the TP-Link because reviews and ratings had it very high on a cost vs performance basis. We don't need a "fancy" router in our house so I'm not paying $200-250 or more for one. I will say, I'm disappointed that this particular TP-Link chipset isn't supported by 3rd-party, open-source firmware. I don't mind dabbling with those, especially when the device falls into unsupported category by the manufacturer.
 
Hall said:
Our previous two routers were Asus and that's probably who I'd go back to for our next one. I chose the TP-Link because reviews and ratings had it very high on a cost vs performance basis. We don't need a "fancy" router in our house so I'm not paying $200-250 or more for one. I will say, I'm disappointed that this particular TP-Link chipset isn't supported by 3rd-party, open-source firmware. I don't mind dabbling with those, especially when the device falls into unsupported category by the manufacturer.
Click to expand...
Yeah, like you and others in this forum are far as 3rd party firmware, it's all in the price I guess and these devices weren't marketed with that part of the market in mins. The vast majority are plug and play. When it comes to routers I am too and I feel like I know something more than the general public.
I would consider ASUS simply based on CR ratings of course that wouldnt be the final say. I really want the router that will sell the least amount of my information but I dont think that exists anymore out of the box. Does a VPN stop that? I never much thought more about it.
 
ubiquity has some good unifi gear for the masses now.
not much more complicated to setup.

The unifi express 7 has everything needed but only 2 ethernet ports 1 wan &1 Lan, however 8 port gigabit switches are cheap!.

the Unifi Cloud gateway + a WAP (repurpose your old router as one in wap mode to be cheap?) or buy a unifi 7-lite etc.

or even the "non pro" Dream router 7

I wouldnt recommend the dream machine pro or pro SE until they are updated unless you REALLY need a rackmount formfactor.
or catch a good deal.
 
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rijndael said:
Asus is also having a rough go of it with their warranty
Click to expand...
Not a deal-breaker for me. In most cases, I'd expect a DOA more than a failure many months later so with a DOA, I'm just returning it to wherever I bought it. Or, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, etc will sell me a "protection plan" (which I never buy) for a few dollars if I was worried.
 
alarmguy said:
Yeah, like you and others in this forum are far as 3rd party firmware, it's all in the price I guess and these devices weren't marketed with that part of the market in mins. The vast majority are plug and play.
Click to expand...
The 3rd-party support is my fault for not checking, so I can't blame TP-Link. And on this one, other than setting up alternate DNS servers, everything is stock / default settings, except for the SSID name. I always name ours something interesting.... I change the name at times too but with our "smart" home, I've quit doing it. Currently it's "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft" (and Wizardry is too long). It's been "Ice Moon Hoth", "100 Acre Woods", and others.
 
Rand said:
ubiquity has some good unifi gear for the masses now.
not much more complicated to setup.

The unifi express 7 has everything needed but only 2 ethernet ports 1 wan &1 Lan, however 8 port gigabit switches are cheap!.

the Unifi Cloud gateway + a WAP (repurpose your old router as one in wap mode to be cheap?) or buy a unifi 7-lite etc.

or even the "non pro" Dream router 7

I wouldnt recommend the dream machine pro or pro SE until they are updated unless you REALLY need a rackmount formfactor.
or catch a good deal.
Click to expand...
I like my Cloud Gateway Ultra, hard to beat for the capability level at $129 if you don't need anything above 1GB. There is an additional $99/year Proofpoint subscription offered as well for more cybersecurity capability.
https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/cloud-gateways-compact/products/ucg-ultra

I already had Ubiquiti WiFi 5 APs and an older PoE switch, US-8-60W which has 4 PoE ports, for many people starting from scratch, those would be additional expenses. I may upgrade my APs at some point, starting to get more devices that support WiFi 7 in the house. I'll probably let the old switch soldier on until it doesn't.

For folks starting from zero, one of the Ubiquiti routers with built-in WiFi may be a better investment. As Rand mentioned the Express 7 with a $29 USW-Flex-Mini switch may be a great option:
https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/cloud-gateways-wifi-integrated/products/ux7

https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/switching-utility/products/usw-flex-mini
 
Here is the rest of the story for those who are not aware what took place in 2024
No politics in here but we know the clamp down taking place, but if you really read this story through it makes you wonder if the "ban" talk is a show or possible hysteria or a lobby group from the competition?

I am not pushing the product though it might seem like it but I am for sanity and not jumping on every bandwagon of any product without proof. With 60% of the USA market, they are still looking for the routers to be calling China, just like all other routers. Any one of them can be infected. But never a proof coming from that factory like that. Also, why are we ok with getting TikTok bought by an American company but not TP-Link already owned by an American company?

"As an independent US company, no foreign country or government, including China, has access to or control over the design and production of our products," a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET."

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-...t-urges-total-ban-of-our-most-popular-router/​

_______​

 
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alarmguy said:
Here is the rest of the story for those who are not aware what took place in 2024
No politics in here but we know the clamp down taking place, but if you really read this story through it makes you wonder if the "ban" talk is a show or possible hysteria or a lobby group from the competition?

I am not pushing the product though it might seem like it but I am for sanity and not jumping on every bandwagon of any product without proof. With 60% of the USA market, they are still looking for the routers to be calling China, just like all other routers. Any one of them can be infected. But never a proof coming from that factory like that. Also, why are we ok with getting TikTok bought by an American company but not TP-Link already owned by an American company?

"As an independent US company, no foreign country or government, including China, has access to or control over the design and production of our products," a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET."

https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-...t-urges-total-ban-of-our-most-popular-router/​

_______​

Click to expand...
It's definitely not an independent US company, their main headquarters is in China:

From the Wikipedia page:

TP-Link is a Chinese company that manufactures network equipment and smart home products. The company was established in 1996 in Shenzhen. TP-Link's main headquarters is located in Nanshan, Shenzhen; there is a smaller headquarters in Irvine, California. It has subsidiaries operating globally and owns several brands, including Deco, Tapo, Omada, Omada Pro, VIGI, Aginet, Kasa Smart, and Mercusys. The company has been investigated by the governments of India and the United States, citing national security risks.
 
OVERKILL said:
It's definitely not an independent US company, their main headquarters is in China:

From the Wikipedia page:

TP-Link is a Chinese company that manufactures network equipment and smart home products. The company was established in 1996 in Shenzhen. TP-Link's main headquarters is located in Nanshan, Shenzhen; there is a smaller headquarters in Irvine, California. It has subsidiaries operating globally and owns several brands, including Deco, Tapo, Omada, Omada Pro, VIGI, Aginet, Kasa Smart, and Mercusys. The company has been investigated by the governments of India and the United States, citing national security risks.
Click to expand...
All I know is what I read Im not for or against- Im just waiting for proof.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-...t-urges-total-ban-of-our-most-popular-router/

"As an independent US company, no foreign country or government, including China, has access to or control over the design and production of our products," a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET."

"Commerce officials concluded TP-Link Systems products pose a risk because the US-based company's products handle sensitive American data and because the officials believe it remains subject to jurisdiction or influence by the Chinese government," the Washington Post reports.

and this was from the Wikipedia page
" In 2022, TP-Link Corporation began to separate from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. (TP-LINK) in China. After the separation, TP-Link Corporation became a standalone entity in all shareholdings and all operational aspects, such as workforce, research and development, production, marketing, and customer service.[12]"
_______
I acknowledge the information is sketchy but it is now a stand alone company separate from TPLINK Technologies, not defending anything, I just like data and facts. Still waiting for the smoking gun other than suspicions and accusations. Owners of the company live in California or at least one of them, however I am not doubting your posts or anyone else. They say they are now separated from TP Link technologies but I can find anything factual about it.

I did find this, still sounds sketchy but it is based on something, not that it matters to me, just discussing.
https://www.tp-link.com/us/press/news/21130/

"In early 2022, TP-Link Corporation Group (TP-Link®) began its formal organizational separation from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. (TP-LINK®) in China, that each of them functions as a standalone entity. This separation encompasses all shareholdings and operational aspects, including legal entities, workforce, research and development, production, marketing, and customer service. "
 
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alarmguy said:
All I know is what I read Im not for or against- Im just waiting for proof.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-...t-urges-total-ban-of-our-most-popular-router/

"As an independent US company, no foreign country or government, including China, has access to or control over the design and production of our products," a TP-Link spokesperson told CNET."

"Commerce officials concluded TP-Link Systems products pose a risk because the US-based company's products handle sensitive American data and because the officials believe it remains subject to jurisdiction or influence by the Chinese government," the Washington Post reports.

and this was from the Wikipedia page
" In 2022, TP-Link Corporation began to separate from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. (TP-LINK) in China. After the separation, TP-Link Corporation became a standalone entity in all shareholdings and all operational aspects, such as workforce, research and development, production, marketing, and customer service.[12]"
_______
I acknowledge the information is sketchy but it is now a stand alone company separate from TPLINK Technologies, not defending anything, I just like data and facts. Still waiting for the smoking gun other than suspicions and accusations. Owners of the company live in California or at least one of them, however I am not doubting your posts or anyone else. They say they are now separated from TP Link technologies but I can find anything factual about it.

I did find this, still sounds sketchy but it is based on something, not that it matters to me, just discussing.
https://www.tp-link.com/us/press/news/21130/

"In early 2022, TP-Link Corporation Group (TP-Link®) began its formal organizational separation from TP-LINK Technologies Co., Ltd. (TP-LINK®) in China, that each of them functions as a standalone entity. This separation encompasses all shareholdings and operational aspects, including legal entities, workforce, research and development, production, marketing, and customer service. "
Click to expand...
Yes, that's the whole "separate, smaller headquarters in California" thing. It's still TP-Link. Do you think the components don't come from the parent? ;)

It's a smart move, but it doesn't appear the government is buying it.
 
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