Congress Wants Americans to Stop Using Chinese Routers

A U.S. congressional committee is asking Americans to stop using Chinese internet routers over ongoing cybersecurity concerns.

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been on the rise, driven by an ongoing trade war, the AI race, and concerns over the activities of China-sponsored hacking groups. One such group, Salt Typhoon, recently perpetrated the “worst telecom hack” in U.S. history, compromising at least nine U.S. telecom companies and gaining access to the calls and text messages of millions.

As a result, U.S. lawmakers have been looking with a critical eye at Chinese network companies, including TP-Link, which is the most popular brand of network routers in the U.S. Lawmakers have considered banning the company’s equipment altogether.

In the meantime, the House of Representatives Select Committee on China is urging U.S. consumers to avoid TP-Link, according to Reuters.

“We need to all take action and replace those devices so they don’t become the tools that are used in the attacks on the U.S.,” Rob Joyce, former NSA Director of Cybersecurity, told the committee.

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi agreed with Joyce’s assessment. Pointing to a consumer-grade TP-Link router, he said: “Don’t use this.

“I don’t have one at home either. It’s not a good idea,” Krishnamoorthi added.

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