GoKawiilThe Federal Communications Commission has ordered a ban on the import of new consumer routers that are manufactured overseas, citing cybersecurity risks.
The order, published late Monday, said the import ban will “include all consumer-grade routers produced in foreign countries.” The FCC said the order does not affect imports or usage of existing routers, but new devices may be granted an exception if the Departments of Defense or Homeland Security approve.
The FCC claimed foreign-made routers “pose unacceptable risks” to U.S. national security, referring to a threat from China-backed hacking groups Volt, Salt and Flax Typhoon.
According to Reuters, China is said to command around 60% of the market for consumer routers, which connect homes and businesses to the internet.
The FCC said it was taking action because malicious hackers have exploited flaws in foreign-made routers to attack U.S. households, disrupt networks, and enable cybercrime and surveillance.
Government-backed hackers and cybercriminals alike have long targeted routers because they allow access to home or business networks. Hackers can also hijack routers to pummel other companies or businesses with disruptive events designed to overload servers with junk network traffic, known as distributed denial-of-service attacks.
The FCC did not provide evidence to show that U.S.-made consumer routers are more secure than routers developed overseas. An FCC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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