GCHS Information Security and Privacy
Banned apps and devices
Do not install or use these on any phone, tablet, computer, router or drone that you use for GCHS work, including your own personal devices. Source: Texas Department of Information Resources, lists last updated February 4, 2026.
Apps and software
- TikTok (ByteDance)
- Lemon8
- RedNote
- WeChat and WeChat Pay
- QQ Wallet and Tencent apps
- Temu and Pinduoduo (PDD Holdings)
- Shein
- Alibaba and Alipay
- Baidu
- CamScanner
- DeepSeek
- Moonshot AI
- MiniMax
- Zhipu / Z.ai
- Baichuan
- StepFun
- iFlytek
- WPS Office
- SHAREit
- VMate
- Kaspersky
- Xiaomi apps
- Moomoo
- WeBull
- Tiger Brokers
Devices and equipment
- TP-Link routers and devices
- DJI drones and equipment
- Autel Robotics
- Huawei
- ZTE
- Hikvision
- Dahua
- Uniview
- Hytera
- Xiaomi devices
- Hisense
- TCL
- Gotion and CATL batteries
- RoboSense
- NucTech
- Wuhan Geosun
Check your home router
Any router used for GCHS work, including at home, must not be on this list. Look at the label. If it says TP-Link, tell Don Williams: it cannot be used for GCHS work until it is replaced.
It must also have current firmware, a changed administrator password, and remote management turned off.
Why TP-Link is listed
Texas lists it for national security reasons: concern that a foreign government could use the technology to surveil Texans. A router carries all of your internet traffic.