BrianKrebs (@briankrebs@infosec.exchange)
infosec.exchange
Whoa, that escalated quickly. This just got sent out by the press folks at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC says it has decided that all foreign-made consumer-grade Internet routers are henceforth prohibited from receiving FCC authorization and are therefore prohibited from being imported for use or sale in the United States. "Update Follows Determination by Executive Branch Agencies that Consumer-Grade Routers Produced in Foreign Countries Threaten National Security WASHINGTON, March 23, 2026—Today, the Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries. Routers are the boxes in every home that connect computers, phones, and smart devices to the internet. This followed a determination by a White House-convened Executive Branch interagency body with appropriate national security expertise that such routers “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons.” "The Executive Branch determination noted that foreign-produced routers (1) introduce “a supply chain vulnerability that could disrupt the U.S. economy, critical infrastructure, and national defense” and (2) pose “a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt U.S. critical infrastructure and directly harm U.S. persons.” "This action does not affect any previously-purchased consumer-grade routers. Consumers can continue to use any router they have already lawfully purchased or acquired." "Producers of consumer-grade routers that receive Conditional Approval from DoW or DHS can continue to receive FCC equipment authorizations. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit applications to conditional-approvals@fcc.gov." Not sure how many consumer-grade routers will be left for sale if it really is a ban on approvals for any foreign-made consumer routers like they said, and not just a bunch of already restricted Chinese makers like Huawei and ZTE. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-updates-covered-list-include-foreign-made-consumer-routers FCC's "covered list" of "thou shalt not entities": https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist
  • teft@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    8 months ago

    If foreign made routers pose a severe cybersecurity risk then why would you let the current ones on the market stay? If they were truly a problem you’d remove them from the market, not grandfather them.

    But like everything with this capricious administration the real reason they’re doing this is probably because someone greased their palms.

  • hperrin@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    8 months ago

    Awesome. So what used to be a $50 router is about to be a $150 router. Great.

    • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      8 months ago

      $150 will get you a mini PC that you can run OPNsense on. Hopefully they don’t ban WiFi access points next.

      • 14th_cylon@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        there is not much wifi access points that are not routers at the same time and i doubt that said regulation would make such a minor a distinction.

        also keep in mind that the news articles are specifically talking about tp-link products.

        unfortunately we can only guess, because only official document i have found is as vague as the news reports.

        https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist

        Routers^ produced in a foreign country, except routers which have been granted a Conditional Approval by DoW or DHS.

  • tabular@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    Only US allowed to spy on it’s denizens!!1

    People not being sure what their router is actually doing is the issue. Instead of hoping for local manufactoring why not mandate against black box software running on the router? Mandate routers come with schematics like all electronics used to do? Promote computer literacy while you’re at it.

    • bearboiblake [he/him]@pawb.socialEnglish
      0·
      8 months ago

      Sorry, are you expecting the government, which is owned and controlled by the ruling class, to make legal changes which would go against their own interests? Haven’t you been paying attention?

      If you want change, there’s only one way for us to get it, and it’s through a social revolution.