US may ban sale of home internet routers from this popular Chinese company due to ‘national security risk’

The US government reportedly is investigating Chinese router manufacturer TP-Link over potential national security risks, with authorities considering a ban on the sale of its home internet devices in the US as early as next year.
Citing people familiar with the matter, a report by the Wall Street Journal said that concerns have arisen about the security of TP-Link routers after a recent Microsoft analysis revealed that a Chinese hacking group has compromised thousands of these devices to launch cyberattacks against Western targets, including government organisations, think tanks, and defense contractors.
Notably, TP-Link holds a dominant position in the US home and small business router market with a 65% share, the report said, adding that its routers are widely available on Amazon.com and are even used by the Defense Department and other federal agencies.
The sources also claim that TP-Link routers often ship with security vulnerabilities that the company fails to address promptly. Furthermore, TP-Link has been criticised for its lack of engagement with security researchers who identify these vulnerabilities.

TP-Link, which operates in the US through a California-based unit, maintains that it takes security seriously and addresses known vulnerabilities.
“We welcome any opportunities to engage with the U.S. government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the US market, US consumers, and addressing US national security risks,” the spokeswoman was quoted as saying..
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington criticised the US investigation, accusing it of using national security as a pretext to “suppress Chinese companies”
He added that China will “resolutely defend” the lawful rights and interests of Chinese firms.