Over the past year, TP-Link, a well-known manufacturer of Wi-Fi routers, has unexpectedly found itself at the center of intense scrutiny and controversy. The company is currently under federal investigation amid allegations of connections to Chinese cyberattacks and concerns over potential predatory pricing practices. Reports indicate that more than half a dozen U.S. government departments and agencies support a proposal to ban TP-Link routers entirely within the United States. Despite this troubling backdrop, many consumers—including technology journalists and experts—are grappling with whether to continue using TP-Link products or to seek alternatives.
For those who follow the internet and technology landscape closely, TP-Link’s sudden fall from grace has raised numerous questions. I have been covering the internet world for over six years and have personally used a TP-Link router for the past two years without any noticeable issues. My experience has been largely positive: minimal buffering, solid wireless range, and no outages that I could attribute to the router itself. In fact, in recent Wi-Fi router testing and reviews, TP-Link performed well, even earning an Editors’ Choice award for the best budget router option.
However, the situation is complicated. The question of whether it is safe or advisable to continue using TP-Link routers is not straightforward. Is the company’s alleged involvement in cyberattacks a real risk to everyday consumers? Should users be concerned about data privacy and security? And should those who currently own TP-Link devices consider replacing them? These uncertainties have made the decision to recommend or purchase TP-Link products a thorny issue.
The controversy began to escalate in December 2024, when the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. government was contemplating a ban on TP-Link routers due to the company’s alleged links to significant Chinese cyberattacks. These reports were soon followed by dramatic moments in Congress, such as when Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, publicly held up a TP-Link router during a congressional hearing and urged Americans not to use the product. This public condemnation has amplified concerns about the security risks associated with TP-Link devices.
Despite these allegations, TP-Link remains a massive employer in China, with corporate records showing around 11,000 employees based there. The company itself has firmly denied any direct ties to the Chinese government or involvement in malicious activities. In conversations with TP-Link representatives, they emphasized their commitment to transparency and fair business practices, asserting that they do not engage in selling products below cost or other unfair pricing strategies.
This brings us to another key aspect of the investigation: pricing. TP-Link routers are often significantly cheaper than many competitors. In a test involving 32 routers, TP-Link accounted for eight of the nine lowest-priced models. This dominant presence in the budget market has raised suspicions within the U.S. Department of Justice about whether TP-Link is violating federal laws that prohibit companies from selling products at a loss to undercut competitors unfairly. Bloomberg reported that the Justice Department is investigating these potential predatory pricing practices, although TP-Link claims it has not received any inquiries related to this matter.
When reviewing routers, I chose to focus on product performance without letting the ongoing investigations influence my assessment. After all, TP-Link reportedly accounted for about 65% of router sales last year, making it a significant player in the market. Among the routers we tested, the TP-Link Deco X55 Pro stood out as the only model delivering above-average performance priced under $100. I ultimately selected it as our budget router recommendation because it offered readers an affordable yet reliable option.
From a personal standpoint, I continue to use a TP-Link router and have no plans to replace it immediately. While privacy and security are always top of mind, I do not find myself overly worried about the company’s controversies. I believe that following best practices for network security—such as regularly updating firmware, using strong passwords, and considering VPN usage—can mitigate many risks regardless of the router brand. It is a matter of assessing one’s own risk tolerance.
Security experts have weighed in on the issue as well. Itay Cohen, one of the authors of a 2023 report that identified a firmware implant in TP-Link routers linked to a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, noted in an interview that similar vulnerabilities have been found in devices manufactured worldwide. He argued that there isn’t sufficient public evidence to justify completely avoiding routers made in China. According to Cohen, the security risks associated with routers are systemic and affect many brands, including those produced in the United States.
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