Why I still use the TP-Link router

Not every day that Wi-Fi routers are exporting headlines, but TP-LINK had more than a fair share during the past six months. Three different American sections are investigating this to obtain relationships with Chinese electronic attacks and potential predators. This is a lot of bad press, but it was not enough for me to buy a new Wi-Fi Router yet.

I have covered the Internet world for more than six years, and over the past two, I used the TP-Link router. I can honestly say that I haven’t had any problem with that – minimal cache, solid range and not interruption (I can blame it on the router, anyway). On our last tour of the Wi-Fi router test, TP-Link performed impressive performance, and got our choice of the best budget router.

It was a thorny issue to move for me personally, and for pirates. Can I sincerely recommend a company facing a possible ban in the United States? Is my data at risk? Do I need to replace my router?

These questions began to revolve in my head on December 28, 2024, when Wall Street Journal mentioned The United States government weighs a ban on TP-Link routers due to the company’s relations with many prominent Chinese electronic attacks. Three months later, Representative Raja Krishnamurthi, Democrat from Illinois, Download TP-Link In Congress and said, “Do not use this.”

TP-LINK representatives clearly denied CNET that the company has any links with the Chinese government. However, the records of Chinese companies and government advertisements show that the company It still employs about 11,000 people in China.

When the news broke out, I Four experts of cybersecurity asked Whether they will use the TP-Link router. One of them gave “no”, another said that there was “a danger to the consumer”, and two refused to answer the question directly.

Spend any time to shop in Wi-Fi routers and you will notice that TP-Link routers are often cheaper than competitors. The Ministry of Justice achieves whether these low prices violate federal law that prevents companies from selling products at less cost, according to Bloomberg’s latest report. Of the 32 routers we tested for our last review, TP-Link formed eight out of nine models.

I was not the weakest investigation into our test, and I felt it was important to evaluate the TP-Link on its own advantages. After all, it constituted about 65 % of the router sales last year, according to the magazine report.

Ultimately, I decided to include TP-Link Deco X55 Pro as our choice of a budget router. This was the only wave that exceeds the performance of more than $ 100, and I think it is important to offer readers a cheap option that still accomplishes the task.

After all, Use the TP-Link router I have no plans to replace it. Privacy and safety are important to me, but I do not lose any sleep on the TP-Link case. Knowing that I am following some of the main Best practices for network security It gives me some peace of mind, but it is also an issue that carries risks.

Etay Cohen was one of the authors of the 2023 report Select fixed programs In TP-Link guidelines associated with the state-sponsored Chinese piracy group. He told me In a previous interview Similar cultivation is found on manufactured devices all over the world.

“I do not think that there is sufficient general evidence to easily support the avoiding routers from China,” Cohen said. “The weaknesses and risks associated with routers are largely regular and applied to a wide range of brands, including those manufactured in the United States.”

This danger is greater with TP-Link, in my opinion-when smoke is three separate federal investigations, there is likely to have a fire somewhere-but this is not necessarily for you individually. TP-Link breakfasts used kidnapped routers to target intellectual tanks, governmental organizations, NGOs and Ministry of Defense suppliers.

Cyber ​​security experts with whom you have recommended to follow some basic steps, regardless of the type of router you use: make sure VPN service.

I will continue to update the Wi-Fi router recommendations where I learn new information about TP-Link investigations. Now, I still feel comfortable with them.