US officials are investigating potential national security risks tied to TP-Link, a Chinese telecom company whose internet routers are used by millions in the US. The investigation is part of efforts by the Biden administration to counter China’s ability to hack into American telecommunications.
The Commerce Department has launched a probe into TP-Link, with one possible outcome being a ban on selling its routers in the US. This move comes as major US telecom carriers try to remove Chinese hackers from their networks following a cyber-espionage campaign targeting senior US politicians.
China-backed hackers have been known to exploit internet and phone service providers to collect sensitive user information. TP-Link is not accused of any wrongdoing, but the company has announced a corporate restructuring to establish a US headquarters in California.
US officials believe that cheap and ubiquitous routers like those made by TP-Link could offer a foothold for Chinese hackers into US infrastructure. The Commerce Department’s inquiry follows a “preliminary finding” on another China Telecom-related national security risk investigation.
The White House has proposed tightening cybersecurity regulations for telecom carriers, while a Senate bill would require independent security audits for carriers. US intelligence agencies have previously exploited telecom networks to spy on China, but the recent hack by an alleged Chinese group known as Salt Typhoon has added tension to US-China cyber relations.
US officials and telecom executives struggle to anticipate how Chinese spies would study and exploit the totality of the telecom system. The status quo has to change, according to Senator Ron Wyden, who proposes mandatory action to fix the vulnerabilities in US telecom infrastructure.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics/us-investigating-potential-national-security-risks-internet-routers/index.html