The algorithm scores this router 81/100 - a solid B. Near-maximum structural score: Taiwan headquarters, active FCC authorization, consistent firmware support. A frequent recommendation as the direct replacement for TP-Link and other Chinese-made routers at comparable price points - same performance tier, completely different risk profile.
- Taiwan company (Asus) - not subject to China's National Intelligence Law. Full ownership points.
- FCC authorized, no review pending. Full FCC points.
- Active firmware - reliable patching cadence. Full support points.
- AiProtection (Trend Micro) free - real-time malware and botnet blocking without a subscription
- WPA3, VLAN segmentation, custom DNS all supported
- No built-in VPN - third-party service required for full traffic encryption
- Auto-updates disabled by default - enable immediately in Asus router settings
- Historical CVEs - all patched promptly: Asus has had vulnerabilities across its product line, all addressed promptly compared to industry peers.
FCC & Ban Risk
89
/100
A
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
62
/100
C
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
🏭 Manufacturer
Taiwan-headquartered
ASUSTeK Computer Inc., Taipei, Taiwan
Manufactured in: Taiwan
🏛️ FCC Status
FCC authorized
Not in scope
🛡️ Patch Support
Active
Whether security vulnerabilities are actively being patched
⚠️ Key Finding
low
Historical CVEs - all patched promptly
Router Security Updates
Get notified if new vulnerabilities are discovered for your Asus RT-AX86U Pro. Free, no spam.
🔒
Security capabilities comparison
We benchmark your router against Rio Router across 8 dimensions so you can see exactly what gaps exist - and what a fully-covered setup looks like.
ASUS
your router
Rio Router™
full standard
Zero-Trust Device Admission
Every new device is blocked by default - admin must approve it once, even if it has the right password
Not available
Available
Network Segmentation (VLANs)
Devices on your network are isolated from each other, so a hacked smart TV can't reach your laptop
Partial
Available
Router-Level VPN for All Devices
All traffic - including smart devices that can't run VPN apps - is encrypted before leaving your home
Partial
Available
Domain Allowlisting
Block everything except approved sites; more effective than trying to blacklist billions of harmful URLs
Available
Available
Granular Password Control
Separate passwords per network zone - changing one doesn't affect others
Partial
Available
Guest Auto-Expiry
Guest devices are automatically removed when they leave; neighbors can't reconnect without re-approval
Partial
Available
Clean Supply Chain
Manufactured outside Chinese legal jurisdiction - not subject to China's National Intelligence Law
Available
Available
Active Threat Monitoring
DNS filtering, firewall, activity logs, and ongoing security patch support
Available
Available
We use Rio Router as the benchmark because it’s the only consumer router built to score 8/8 on this framework - it shows you what a fully-covered setup looks like, not just what’s typical.
See Rio →
See all Asus models: Asus brand overview →
What you should do
1
Enable AiProtection and auto-updates
2
Strong choice for users replacing Chinese-manufactured routers
How this was scored · verified March 2026: This rating combines FCC authorization status, manufacturer legal jurisdiction, CVEs from NIST NVD, active patch support status, and CISA advisory mentions. See full methodology →
Reference Data
Known CVEs - Asus brand history
From the NIST National Vulnerability Database. Your specific model may or may not be affected.
Format string vulnerability in iperf service. Unauthenticated remote code execution.
See all Asus CVEs: NIST NVD search →
Sources & evidence
All findings trace to publicly verifiable primary sources - US government databases, official FCC filings, and NIST CVE records. No proprietary or anonymous sources are used.
Full data source documentation: Scoring Methodology & Citations →