TP-Link Archer AX1800
Report IMRS-TPL-AX1800Method: public-record scoring
Apr 2026
Is the TP-Link Archer AX1800 safe?
No. This router leaves your home network open.
It has 0 of the 8 protections we check in full, it’s made in China by a Chinese-owned company, and it has 2 serious security findings.
$20 off for router checkers. $179.99 with code CHECKED20, applied at checkout.
What this means for you
The top 3 risks, most serious first.
-
Serious
Chinese state hackers have used TP-Link routers to attack US networks
Chinese state hackers used TP-Link routers as attack infrastructure against US military, government, and infrastructure. The AX1800 line shares TP-Link's firmware platform and ownership structure.
Do this: Replace - even a budget alternative from Netgear, Eero, or Asus is a major security upgradeSource: CISA Advisory AA23-144A · 2023 ↗ -
Serious
The US government is investigating the company behind it
The DOJ and FCC opened formal investigations into TP-Link. Forced divestiture or a ban is under active consideration.
-
Moderate
Chinese law can force its maker to help Chinese intelligence
TP-Link is legally required to cooperate with PRC intelligence. Applies to AX1800 models equally as flagship hardware.
Protections it’s missing
Missing 5 of 8. Has 3 only partly.
We check every router for the same 8 protections. Here is how the TP-Link Archer AX1800 does.
-
Blocks unknown devices from joining
MissingNew devices stay out until you approve them once, even if they have the Wi-Fi password.
Zero-Trust Device Admission -
Encrypts internet traffic for every device
MissingTraffic leaving your home is encrypted, even from devices that can’t run a VPN app.
Router-Level VPN -
Locks a device to approved sites
MissingA device can reach only the sites you approve. Everything else is blocked.
Domain Allowlisting -
Guest access that expires
MissingGuests are removed when they leave and need your approval to reconnect.
Guest Auto-Expiry -
Made outside China’s legal reach
MissingNot subject to China’s National Intelligence Law.
Clean Supply Chain -
Keeps smart gadgets away from your computers
PartlyDevices are kept apart, so a hacked smart TV can’t reach your laptop.
Network Segmentation (VLANs) -
Separate Wi-Fi passwords per group
PartlyEach part of your network gets its own password.
Granular Password Control -
Watches for attacks in real time
PartlySpots suspicious devices, traffic and known attacks as they happen.
Active Threat Monitoring
Fix it today
- Replace - even a budget alternative from Netgear, Eero, or Asus is a major security upgradeWhy: Chinese state hackers have used TP-Link routers to attack US networks.
- Update firmware immediately if keeping temporarily
- Disable remote management
- Change the default admin password
Rio closes the gaps your Archer AX1800 leaves open.
- You approve every device. Nothing new joins your network until you say yes in the Rio app.
- US company, made in Taiwan. No government flags.
- Rio VPN for the rooms you choose. 3,000+ servers in 110+ countries. First year included.
$20 off for router checkers with code CHECKED20, applied at checkout. Regular price $199.99.
1 year of Rio VPN included, then $7.99/month or $79.99/year · 30-day returns · 1-year warranty
Rio builds this site and is graded by the same method. See the method
Get alerts for your Archer AX1800
Get an email if it shows up on the US government's list of actively exploited flaws, or loses updates. Plus the 5-step lockdown checklist now.
How we scored it70% from who makes it, FCC status and updates. 30% from the 8 protections.
1Scores
2Calculation
10 × 0.7 + 19 × 0.3 = 13/100, grade F. 85+ is an A, 65+ a B, 45+ a C, 30+ a D, below 30 an F.
3The facts behind it
- Who makes it
- Chinese-ownedTP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China - subject to China's National Intelligence Law.
- Made in
- China
- Security updates
- Active (parent co. under investigation)
- FCC approval
- Authorized - under federal review
- FCC restrictions
- New models blocked from FCC authorization ↗
- Last verified
- April 2026
4Known flaws in TP-Link routers
From the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Your specific model may or may not be affected.
- CVE-2023-1389 · High · CVSS 8.8 · Archer AX21
Command injection via country form parameter. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) listed April 2023. Actively exploited in the wild. - CVE-2022-4499 · High · CVSS 7.5 · TL-WR940N, TL-WR841N
Side-channel timing attack allows remote recovery of admin credentials - no authentication required. - CVE-2022-42402 · Medium · CVSS 6.5 · Multiple models
Authenticated remote command execution via crafted HTTP request.
5Sources
- CISA Advisory AA23-144A · 2023 ↗
- DOJ/FCC Investigation · 2024–present ↗
- China National Intelligence Law · 2017 ↗
- FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗
- FCC Covered List · National Security Designation ↗
Every finding traces to public sources: FCC filings, NIST CVE records and US government advisories. Read the full method · Report an error
Other TP-Link models
See every TP-Link model: TP-Link brand overview →