The Starlink router is SpaceX hardware manufactured in the US. It receives automatic firmware updates - one of the few routers manufactured domestically. The primary limitations are lack of advanced configuration options and the proprietary satellite connection dependency.
- Limited advanced configuration: The Starlink router is designed for simplicity. Custom VLANs, per-device firewall rules, and advanced DNS settings require bypassing it with a third-party router.
- Proprietary protocol - limited third-party audit: Starlink uses a proprietary satellite protocol. While this limits attack surface, independent security researchers have less visibility into the stack than with standard Wi-Fi hardware.
- SpaceX account = router access: The Starlink app and account manage the router. Securing your Starlink account with 2-factor authentication is important.
FCC & Ban Risk
88
/100
A
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
38
/100
D
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
🏭 Manufacturer
SpaceX subsidiary (US)
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), Hawthorne, CA - Starlink division
Manufactured in: United States
🏛️ FCC Status
FCC authorized
Not in scope
🛡️ Patch Support
Automatic - always current
Whether security vulnerabilities are actively being patched
⚠️ Key Finding
low
Limited advanced configuration
Router Security Updates
Get notified if new vulnerabilities are discovered for your Starlink Router. 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.
STARLINK
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
Not available
Available
Domain Allowlisting
Block everything except approved sites; more effective than trying to blacklist billions of harmful URLs
Partial
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
Not available
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
Partial
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 Starlink models: Starlink brand overview →
What you should do
1
Enable 2-factor authentication on your Starlink account
2
Automatic firmware updates are on by default - leave them enabled
3
Power users: consider connecting a secondary router to the Starlink in bypass mode for more configuration control
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
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 →