US lawmakers urge probe of WiFi router maker TP-Link over fears of Chinese cyber attacks
US lawmakers want the Biden administration to probe China's TP-Link Technology Co and its affiliates for potential national security risks from their widely used WiFi routers over fears they could be used in cyber attacks against the U.S.
Republican Representative John Moolenaar and Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who lead the House Select Committee on China, requested a Commerce Department probe in a Tuesday letter seen by Reuters.
According to research firm IDC, TP-Link, which focuses on the consumer market, is the top seller of WiFi routers internationally by unit volume.
In calling for an investigation, the US legislators cited known vulnerabilities in TP-Link firmware and instances of its routers being exploited to target government officials in European countries.
"...We request that Commerce verify the threat posed by (China-affiliated small office/home office) routers -particularly those offered by the world's largest manufacturer, TP-Link," according to the letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
They called it a «glaring national security issue.»
The Commerce Department said it would respond to the letter through appropriate channels. The Chinese Embassy said it hopes authorities will «have enough evidence when identifying cyber-related incidents, rather than make groundless speculations and allegations.»
TP-Link, founded in China in 1996 by two brothers and based in Shenzhen, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The letter is a sign of mounting concerns that
