Technology

TP-Link seeks to secure conditional approval from FCC following router import ban — company stresses it is no longer Chinese-owned

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Apr 21, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

TP-Link is in talks with the FCC to secure conditional approval to continue importing new router models after the FCC's ban on imported routers. The company emphasizes that it is now a U.S.-based entity with no ties to its former Chinese parent company. The FCC's blanket ban on imported routers can be exempted with conditional approval, requiring a plan for U.S.-based manufacturing. While TP-Link's manufacturing remains in China and Vietnam, other companies like Adtran Inc. and Netgear have obtained conditional approvals. TP-Link's separation from its Chinese parent company is completed, but its historical ties may still draw scrutiny from U.S. officials.

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Windows 11 April update now reveals if Secure Boot 2023 certificate is applied to your PC

The Windows 11 April 2026 Update introduces the ability to check if the Secure Boot 2023 certificate is applied to your PC, crucial for protecting against boot-level malware. Microsoft confirms that older certificates will be replaced with Secure Boot 2023 via Windows Update. The Windows Security app now displays the Secure Boot certificate status under the 'Device Security' tab, ensuring users can easily verify if their certificates are updated. The update is rolling out gradually and should be available on most PCs by the end of April 2026. Users can check their Secure Boot status in Windows Security to ensure their devices are fully protected.

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Russian-made Shahed drones are ‘disintegrating in the air before reaching their targets’ due to shoddy manufacturing, video shows — commentators call Russian clones of Iran's drones 'flying garbage'

Russian-made Shahed drones are facing criticism for disintegrating in the air before reaching their targets due to poor manufacturing quality. Video footage from Ukrainian Sting interceptor drones reveals defects like missing body panels, stray wiring, and deformed wingtips on the drones. The drones are said to be produced in Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone with minimally trained workers using inferior Chinese parts. This decline in quality has led to a decrease in the hit rate of these drones in Ukraine, turning them into tools of attrition rather than precision.