The FCC has added foreign-made consumer routers to its national security risk list, effectively banning the import of new models not previously approved. While the move aims to reduce geopolitical exposure and supply chain risks — citing threats like Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon attacks — security experts warn it may backfire. With nearly all SOHO routers manufactured outside the US, the ban could force businesses to keep aging, insecure equipment longer as domestic alternatives are almost nonexistent (only Starlink qualifies). Critics also argue the real router security risks are operational — default credentials, unpatched firmware, exposed management interfaces — not country of origin, and that the EU's Cyber Resilience Act approach of mandating security standards regardless of origin may be more effective.
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