US Bans New Foreign-Made Home Routers Over National Security Fears
FCC bans new foreign-made home routers from US market citing national security and cyber espionage risks.
Summary
The FCC has officially added all foreign-made consumer routers to its restricted Covered List, effective March 23, 2026, blocking new imports and sales in the United States. The ban follows a White House-led interagency investigation revealing that foreign routers pose unacceptable national security risks and have been targeted by state-sponsored groups including Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon for cyber espionage against critical infrastructure. Existing routers remain legal and will receive security updates through March 2027, but new foreign models require strict review and conditional approval from DoW or DHS before market entry.
Full text
SecurityUS Bans New Foreign-Made Home Routers Over National Security Fears The FCC has officially added foreign-made consumer routers to its restricted Covered List, citing major cybersecurity risks. Find out what it means for your current devices. byDeeba AhmedMarch 25, 20262 minute read In a major move for national security, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially added all foreign-made home routers to its restricted Covered List. The decision, which went into effect on Monday, 23 March 2026, effectively blocks new models of these devices from being imported or sold within the United States. An investigation by a specialised interagency body convened by the White House reveals that these devices have become a primary target for international cyber espionage. National security experts from this group found that routers produced abroad “pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or the safety and security of United States persons,” the FCC’s announcement (PDF) reads. The government’s decision follows persistent activity from foreign hacking groups, including Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon. These groups have targeted essential services like water, power, and communications, and these actors frequently exploit security gaps in home routers to spy on families, steal personal data, or launch larger attacks on the nation’s infrastructure. The FCC, which manages communication technology, acted after this White House-led group of national security agencies warned that relying on foreign-made parts makes the US economy vulnerable. Experts noted that these devices could provide potential built-in backdoors for bad actors to enter American homes. This shift follows President Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy, which states that the US must never be “dependent on any outside power for core components” needed for the economy. What This Means for Households If you already have a router in your house, you do not need to throw it away. The FCC confirmed that these new rules only apply to future models that have not yet been authorised. Shop owners can also continue to sell the stock they already have. Furthermore, existing routers will still be allowed to receive security patches and software updates until at least March 2027. For any new foreign router models to enter the US market, they must undergo a strict review. The Department of War (DoW) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can grant a Conditional Approval if they find a device is safe. Companies looking to apply for this are encouraged to send their requests to [email protected]. In response to the new rules, Chairman Carr of the FCC stated that this update is a vital step in making sure “US cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and supply chains are safe and secure,” in an era where our lives are heavily dependent upon the internet. Deeba Ahmed Deeba is a veteran cybersecurity reporter at Hackread.com with over a decade of experience covering cybercrime, vulnerabilities, and security events. Her expertise and in-depth analysis make her a key contributor to the platform’s trusted coverage. View Posts CybersecurityFCCNational SecurityRouterUSA Leave a Reply Cancel reply View Comments (0) Related Posts Read More Security Android Malware Malware Surge Hits Android: Adware, Trojans and Crypto Theft Lead Q2 Threats Dr.Web reports Android malware surge in Q2 with adware, banking trojans and crypto theft hidden in fake apps, firmware and spyware targeting users. byWaqas Read More Cyber Attacks Gaming Security Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore Hit by Ransomware, Player Accounts Deleted The victim company, Gellyberry Studios, an independent game studio, developed Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore. byDeeba Ahmed Security Android Malware Android users worldwide hit by sophisticated Google Play malware A new Android malware campaign dubbed PhantomLance has been found infecting users from... bySudais Asif Read More Security Phishing Scam Facebook, Meta, Apple, Amazon Most Impersonated in Phishing Scams Feeling phished? Don't be a victim! Learn from Mailsuite's research which popular brands scammers impersonate the most (including surprising ones!) and how to identify these cunning attacks. byDeeba Ahmed