Asus RT-AC Series
Router security check

Asus RT-AC Series

AsusMade in China

Report IMRS-ASU-SERIESMethod: public-record scoring

Verified
Apr 2026
Score46/100
Protections0/8
5 missing3 partly

Is the Asus RT-AC Series safe?

Okay, with real gaps.

It has 0 of the 8 protections we check in full and gets regular security updates, but it has 1 serious security finding.

Your RT-AC Series scored C. Rio scores A on the same test.

$20 off for router checkers. $179.99 with code CHECKED20, applied at checkout.

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Free shipping · 30-day returns · 1-year warranty · 1 year of Rio VPN included
The risks

What this means for you

The top 3 risks, most serious first.

  1. Serious

    It’s made abroad, so the FCC’s 2026 foreign-made router rule applies

    All Asus RT-AC routers are manufactured in China. The FCC's March 2026 rule applies to manufacturing origin.

    Source: FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗
  2. Moderate

    Its software has a long record of security flaws

    Asus RT-AC routers have had critical vulnerabilities. Asus patches quickly relative to the industry, but only if auto-updates are enabled.

    Do this: Enable automatic firmware updates (Advanced Settings → Administration → Firmware Upgrade)
    Source: Various · 2022–2023 · NVD ↗
  3. Minor

    All Asus routers require manual opt-in for automatic firmware updates

    Enable them immediately in the admin panel.

The 8 protections

Protections it’s missing

Missing 5 of 8. Has 3 only partly.

We check every router for the same 8 protections. Here is how the Asus RT-AC Series does.

  • Blocks unknown devices from joining

    Missing

    New devices stay out until you approve them once, even if they have the Wi-Fi password.

    Zero-Trust Device Admission

  • Encrypts internet traffic for every device

    Missing

    Traffic leaving your home is encrypted, even from devices that can’t run a VPN app.

    Router-Level VPN

  • Locks a device to approved sites

    Missing

    A device can reach only the sites you approve. Everything else is blocked.

    Domain Allowlisting

  • Guest access that expires

    Missing

    Guests are removed when they leave and need your approval to reconnect.

    Guest Auto-Expiry

  • Made outside China’s legal reach

    Missing

    Not subject to China’s National Intelligence Law.

    Clean Supply Chain

  • Keeps smart gadgets away from your computers

    Partly

    Devices are kept apart, so a hacked smart TV can’t reach your laptop.

    Network Segmentation (VLANs)

  • Separate Wi-Fi passwords per group

    Partly

    Each part of your network gets its own password.

    Granular Password Control

  • Watches for attacks in real time

    Partly

    Spots suspicious devices, traffic and known attacks as they happen.

    Active Threat Monitoring
Your next steps

Fix it today

  1. Enable automatic firmware updates (Advanced Settings → Administration → Firmware Upgrade)
    Why: Its software has a long record of security flaws.
  2. Enable AiProtection
    Free Trend Micro threat detection.
  3. Change default admin password
  4. Plan migration to Wi-Fi 6 hardware per FCC foreign manufacture rule
From the team behind this site

Your RT-AC Series, plus what it’s missing.

Your RT-AC Series
C
Missing 5 of 8
Rio Router
A
Has all 8
  • You approve every device. Nothing new joins your network until you say yes in the Rio app.
  • US company, made in Taiwan. No government flags.
  • Rio VPN for the rooms you choose. 3,000+ servers in 110+ countries. First year included.
Get Rio for $179.99

$20 off for router checkers with code CHECKED20, applied at checkout. Regular price $199.99.
1 year of Rio VPN included, then $7.99/month or $79.99/year · 30-day returns · 1-year warranty

Rio builds this site and is graded by the same method. See the method

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How we scored it70% from who makes it, FCC status and updates. 30% from the 8 protections.

1Scores

Maker, FCC status and updates 57/100 · 70%
The 8 protections 19/100 · 30%

2Calculation

57 × 0.7 + 19 × 0.3 = 46/100, grade C. 85+ is an A, 65+ a B, 45+ a C, 30+ a D, below 30 an F.

3The facts behind it

Who makes it
Taiwan-headquarteredASUSTeK Computer Inc., Taipei, Taiwan - TWSE: 2357. AC-series routers manufactured in China.
Made in
China
Security updates
Active
FCC approval
FCC authorized - foreign manufacture rule applies
FCC restrictions
Foreign manufacture - subject to FCC March 2026 ban
Last verified
April 2026

4Known flaws in Asus routers

From the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Your specific model may or may not be affected.

  • CVE-2023-39238 · Critical · CVSS 9.8 · Multiple ASUS routers
    Format string vulnerability in iperf service. Unauthenticated remote code execution.

5Sources

  1. FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗
  2. Various · 2022–2023 · NVD ↗

Every finding traces to public sources: FCC filings, NIST CVE records and US government advisories. Read the full method · Report an error

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Your RT-AC Series scored C. Rio scores A. $20 off with code CHECKED20.
Compare with Rio, $20 off →