Cisco RV160
Report IMRS-CIS-RV160Method: public-record scoring
Apr 2026
Is the Cisco RV160 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.
$20 off for router checkers. $179.99 with code CHECKED20, applied at checkout.
What this means for you
The top 2 risks, most serious first.
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Serious
It’s made abroad, so the FCC’s 2026 foreign-made router rule applies
The RV160 is manufactured in China. The FCC's March 23, 2026 rule bans new foreign-manufactured networking equipment.
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Moderate
Small business environments handling sensitive data or payment systems carry higher risk if firmware updates are delayed
Cisco's update cadence is strong, but deployment-level patching is the critical variable.
Do this: Apply latest firmware via Cisco.com
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 Cisco RV160 does.
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Blocks unknown devices from joining
MissingNew devices stay out until you approve them once, even if they have the Wi-Fi password.
Zero-Trust Device Admission -
Locks a device to approved sites
MissingA device can reach only the sites you approve. Everything else is blocked.
Domain Allowlisting -
Guest access that expires
MissingGuests are removed when they leave and need your approval to reconnect.
Guest Auto-Expiry -
Made outside China’s legal reach
MissingNot subject to China’s National Intelligence Law.
Clean Supply Chain -
Watches for attacks in real time
MissingSpots suspicious devices, traffic and known attacks as they happen.
Active Threat Monitoring -
Keeps smart gadgets away from your computers
PartlyDevices are kept apart, so a hacked smart TV can’t reach your laptop.
Network Segmentation (VLANs) -
Encrypts internet traffic for every device
PartlyTraffic leaving your home is encrypted, even from devices that can’t run a VPN app.
Router-Level VPN -
Separate Wi-Fi passwords per group
PartlyEach part of your network gets its own password.
Granular Password Control
Fix it today
- Apply latest firmware via Cisco.comWhy: Small business environments handling sensitive data or payment systems carry higher risk if firmware updates are delayed.
- Audit VPN configurationRV160 VPN is often the primary attack surface.
- Plan hardware migration per FCC foreign manufacture rule
- Disable unused WAN services
Your RV160, plus what it’s missing.
- 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 flags suspicious devices as it happens. You see it in the app.
$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
Get alerts for your RV160
Get an email if it shows up on the US government's list of actively exploited flaws, or loses updates. Plus the 5-step lockdown checklist now.
How we scored it70% from who makes it, FCC status and updates. 30% from the 8 protections.
1Scores
2Calculation
61 × 0.7 + 19 × 0.3 = 48/100, 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
- US-headquarteredCisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA - NYSE: CSCO. Entry-level SMB VPN router 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
4Sources
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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