Grade C · Moderate Risk
Is D-Link Safe?
D-Link is Taiwan-headquartered with no ban risk. Newer models rate C. Older models are end-of-life and rate D. D-Link has a significant CVE history.
D-Link is Taiwan-headquartered with no ban risk. Newer models rate C. Older models are end-of-life and rate D. D-Link has a significant CVE history.
D-Link Corporation is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It is not subject to China's National Intelligence Law and has no FCC ban risk. D-Link's security situation is mixed. The newer DIR-X5460 rates C with active firmware support. However, D-Link has a long history of security vulnerabilities and a pattern of slow patching. Many older D-Link models have reached end-of-life with no further security updates. D-Link reached a settlement with the FTC in 2017 over unfair security practices. This track record means even current D-Link models warrant more scrutiny than Asus equivalents.
Bottom line: No national security concern, but verify your model is still supported. D-Link has a poor CVE track record and many models are end-of-life.
All D-Link models in our database. Click a model for its full security report.
| Model | Grade | FCC Status | Security Support | Made In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIR-X5460 | C | FCC authorized | Active | Taiwan |
| DIR-842 | D | Authorized (legacy) | End of support | Taiwan |
D-Link is Taiwan-based with no national security concerns or ban risk. However, it has a poor security track record - a 2017 FTC settlement over inadequate security practices, a history of slow CVE patching, and many end-of-life models still in circulation. Newer models are improving, but Asus is a better choice if you want a Taiwan-based brand.
No. D-Link Corporation is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It is not subject to China's National Intelligence Law. D-Link is a separate entity from Chinese networking equipment makers.
The D-Link DIR-842 is end-of-life and receives no security patches. It rates D in our analysis - any new vulnerabilities found will not be patched. If you are using a DIR-842, replacement is recommended, especially on networks with sensitive data.
In 2017, the FTC sued D-Link for making false claims about router security while failing to implement basic protections. D-Link settled in 2019, agreeing to a comprehensive security program. The settlement required mandatory security audits and vulnerability patching for 10 years.
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