The Verdict
This router has documented security problems. Every device on this network — your work laptop, banking app, Ring camera, smart lock — is running at higher risk than it should be.
An F is not a warning — it’s a finding that the router has been independently flagged for security or supply-chain concerns serious enough to warrant action.
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Every device on your home network is exposed through a single point of failure
Every device on your home network — phones, laptops, security cameras, smart speakers, baby monitors, smart locks — routes through this single point of failure. A flaw at this severity puts all of them in reach of one attacker.
Show technical detail
This router shares a platform actively used in Chinese government hacking: Shares TP-Link's platform, actively exploited by Chinese state hackers.
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Anyone connected to your Wi-Fi can change router settings without the admin password
Anyone connected to your Wi-Fi, including guests or compromised devices, could change router settings without knowing the admin password.
Show technical detail
Your router can be accessed without a password: An attacker on your local network could skip the router login without a password.
Everything on this network shares the exposure
💻 Work laptop & remote access
🏦 Online banking & passwords
📷 Security cameras & smart locks
👧 Kids' devices & school logins
📱 Every phone & tablet at home
🔊 Smart speakers & streaming
An A-rated alternative is shown below.
FCC & Ban Risk
25
/100
F
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
19
/100
F
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
FCC & Ban Risk measures supply-chain exposure, government flags, and CVE history. Security Capabilities measures what the router can actually do to protect your network. How we score →
Device context
Manufacturer
Chinese-owned — TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China
Country of origin
Built in China
US gov status
Authorized - under federal review — New models blocked ↗
Security patches
Active
What to do. Start here.
1
Replace if used for work, banking, or sensitive networks
2
Update firmware immediately
3
Disable remote management
4
We built Rio to score 8/8 on this framework. It’s the only router we track that does — and we’d tell you if another one did
🔒
Security capabilities comparison
Here's how your router compares to Rio across the 8 dimensions we built our framework around. (Yes, we made Rio.)
TP-LINK
your router
Rio Router™
full standard
Zero-Trust Device Admission
Every new device is blocked by default - admin must approve it once, even if it has the right password
Not available
Available
Network Segmentation (VLANs)
Devices on your network are isolated from each other, so a hacked smart TV can't reach your laptop
Partial
Available
Router-Level VPN for All Devices
All traffic - including smart devices that can't run VPN apps - is encrypted before leaving your home
Not available
Available
Domain Allowlisting
Block everything except approved sites; more effective than trying to blacklist billions of harmful URLs
Not available
Available
Granular Password Control
Separate passwords per network zone - changing one doesn't affect others
Partial
Available
Guest Auto-Expiry
Guest devices are automatically removed when they leave; neighbors can't reconnect without re-approval
Not available
Available
Clean Supply Chain
Manufactured outside Chinese legal jurisdiction - not subject to China's National Intelligence Law
Not available
Available
Active Threat Monitoring
Real-time detection of suspicious device behavior, unusual traffic patterns, and known attack signatures on your network
Partial
Available
Rio scores 8/8 — we built it to hit every dimension on this framework. Know a router that does? Tell us and we’ll add it.
Get Rio →
See all TP-Link models: TP-Link brand overview →
You’ve seen the comparison. Rio covers every gap above.
Free US shipping · 30-day money-back · Works with any internet provider
Not ready to switch yet?
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FBI Confirmed
Volt Typhoon
Chinese state hackers used this router brand to attack US infrastructure
The FBI and CISA documented Operation Volt Typhoon, a Chinese government campaign that specifically targeted TP-Link routers to infiltrate US critical infrastructure — water utilities, power grids, and military networks. The same firmware vulnerabilities that made them useful for nation-state hackers are present on home networks. CISA advisory ↗
Documented as part of the Volt Typhoon attack surface.
How this was scored · verified March 2026: This rating combines FCC authorization status, manufacturer legal jurisdiction, CVEs from NIST NVD, active patch support status, and CISA advisory mentions. See full methodology →
Reference Data
Known CVEs - TP-Link brand history
From the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Your specific model may or may not be affected.
Command injection via country form parameter. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) listed April 2023. Actively exploited in the wild.
Side-channel timing attack allows remote recovery of admin credentials - no authentication required.
Authenticated remote command execution via crafted HTTP request.
See all TP-Link CVEs: NIST NVD search →
Sources & evidence
All findings trace to publicly verifiable primary sources - US government databases, official FCC filings, and NIST CVE records. No proprietary or anonymous sources are used.
- CISA Advisory AA23-144A · 2023 ↗
- CVE-2023-39781 · NVD · 2023 ↗
- FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗
- FCC Covered List · National Security Designation ↗
Full data source documentation: Scoring Methodology & Citations →