The incoming Trump administration could take action next year.

TP-link is reportedly being investigated over national security concerns linked to vulnerabilities in its very popular routers.

  • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    7 hours ago

    Out of curiosity, what would happen with older models. Also other devices, like I don’t have a TPlink router but I do have a TPlink Ethernet to power to Ethernet I bought when I lived in an appartment and didn’t want to drill holes in the walls. (Wifi ran from center of house, but outed it to a 110 in the wall and hardwired to a PC into a RAP for work in bedroom at the time.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      3 hours ago

      Eh, something like a dumb switch or PoE injector shouldn’t cause any problems since they don’t really have any exploitable logic, and they’re behind a router anyway.

      • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Really not sure how much tech they have in them. I’m more familiar with PoE and switches. The Ethernet to 110 to Ethernet I guess is just pulses being sent to transmit the data over power lines within the residence, but yeah I agree it is behind the router. That doesn’t say someone couldnt hack say a smart fridge and pick data off the same power and then transmit that data back through a backdoor. But then again that fridge would be behind the router as well. Idk, havent spent much time looking at any of it. It would have to mimic the sync signal used by the receiver though, not sure what security protocols are there.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          2 hours ago

          Unless you’re operating a military base or something, you’ll be fine with anything that’s not “smart.” I don’t trust most “smart” devices unless I can self-host them (e.g. block them from phoning home).

          • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            1 hour ago

            Probably wise, thankfully I don’t have to many smart devices… Even my microwave/air fryer combo started shooting sparks out of another outlet on the breaker. Unplugged it and decided to use it as a cat treat holder for now. He can’t open that… Cabinets though…

    • paraphrand@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      Older devices stop getting software/firmware updates.

      But usually simpler things like USB to Ethernet adapters and switches don’t have much going on update wise. If anything at all. Switches often do, adapters rarely do.

      The best you can do is keep an eye on updates for the devices, if any. Keep an ear out for reported vulnerabilities, and then retire devices when they are no longer maintained.

      But all of that is quite a burden for a device most people set up and forget about. At some scale, and in some senses, there is no good answer. New vulnerabilities are found all the time in hardware/software.

      If you just mean “will old devices stop working”? No. This would just impact new sales.