TRENDnet Logo

TRENDnet was founded in 1990 in Torrance, California, by Pei Huang and Peggy Huang. At the time, business networking equipment was largely controlled by corporate suppliers such as Cisco, with high prices and complex installation. The founders focused on affordable networking devices for small businesses and home users, with a setup that did not require certified IT staff.

In the 1990s, the company sold network adapters, hubs, and cabling under the TRENDware name. For fifteen years, products were marketed under the registered TRENDnet trademark while the legal company name remained unchanged. In October 2005, management announced a unified identity. On November 1, 2005, the company officially became TRENDnet Inc., with an updated logo and brand communication.

During the 2000s, TRENDnet expanded as mass internet use grew. Its range moved from wired switches to 802.11b and 802.11g wireless routers, media converters, KVM switches, and print servers. The company positioned its products as an accessible alternative to D-Link and Netgear in the consumer and SMB markets. In 2011, the founders received the Distinguished Business Achievement Award from the Torrance Chamber of Commerce.

A major test came from the SecurView IP camera line. At least since April 2010, the cameras had a software flaw that allowed live video access via IP address without a password. In January 2012, the issue became public when links to nearly 700 camera feeds appeared online. On September 4, 2013, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission settled with TRENDnet, its first IoT enforcement action. The final order of February 7, 2014, required a security program, independent audits every two years for twenty years, customer notice, and two years of free technical support.