The routers are programmed to ping a hard-coded list of servers, traced back to China. This was all done in the name of national security, but just how real of a threat do routers pose? Jacob Baines at VulnCheck shares his analysis of routers made by Zbtlink, sold under both that and Wiflyer branding. With these Zbtlink routers, the risk feels far closer to that first option. While there’s no hard-coded backdoor account, what the Zbtlink routers are doing might be even worse.