If You Buy a New Router, It Might ‘Turn Into a Pumpkin’ Next Year
CNET • • business
Key Points:
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued an unprecedented ban on the sale of new foreign-made Wi-Fi routers in the US, citing national security risks, effectively freezing the entire router market for new models not yet approved.
- The ban affects routers with any stage of manufacturing, assembly, design, or development outside the US, which includes nearly all current brands, though existing authorized models can still be sold and restocked.
- Security firmware and software updates for banned routers will cease after March 1, 2027, raising concerns that affected devices may become vulnerable without future patches, despite the ban’s intent to enhance security.
- Experts advise consumers to delay purchasing new routers if possible until more clarity emerges on which companies will be exempt or banned, recommending caution due to the complex, international supply chains involved.
- While the ban targets national security threats linked to cyberattacks using compromised routers, users are encouraged to maintain current router security by regularly changing default credentials and keeping firmware updated.
