Security Analysis Report
Spectrum RAC2V1A
C
MODERATE RISK
This router scores 60/100 - a C. Gets the basics right but leaves gaps that matter on busy networks.
- Every device on your Wi-Fi is exposed to anything that infects one of them - there's no way to segment them - It affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi - your work laptop, your phone, your kids' devices, your security cameras. Not the most urgent threat on the page, but a real edge an attacker can use to reach the rest.
- A real gap that affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi - It affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi - your work laptop, your phone, your kids' devices, your security cameras. Not the most urgent threat on the page, but a real edge an attacker can use to reach the rest.
- Your Wi-Fi password can be captured by anyone within range of your home - Wi-Fi 5 uses WPA2 encryption, which has a known weakness (KRACK) that can let attackers near your home capture your Wi-Fi password. WPA3 fixes this and is supported on newer routers.
FCC & Ban Risk
81
/100
B
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
12
/100
F
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
2.1M US homes use this router
How we estimated this ↗
Device context
Manufacturer
Charter Communications (US) - Charter Communications Inc., Stamford, CT · hardware by Askey Computer, Taiwan
FCC status
FCC authorized - Not in scope
Made in
Taiwan (Askey)
Patch support
Limited
Worth doing now
1Change your Wi-Fi password and admin password from the printed defaults
2Ask Spectrum about a Wi-Fi 6 gateway upgrade if available in your area
3Use WPA2-AES encryption setting if available in the settings
4We built Rio to score 8/8 on this framework - it’s the only router we track that does
Security features
Zero-Trust Device Admission
Network Segmentation (VLANs)
Router-Level VPN for All Devices
Domain Allowlisting
Granular Password Control
Guest Auto-Expiry
Clean Supply Chain
Active Threat Monitoring
The Verdict
This router gets the basics right, but the gaps are significant. Spectrum locks down this gateway. If any device on your Wi-Fi gets infected - a kid’s tablet, a smart bulb, a guest’s phone - it can reach your work laptop and banking app on the same flat network.
A C grade is not a sign-off. It means there are real, exploitable issues affecting this network every day.
-
Every device on your Wi-Fi is exposed to anything that infects one of them - there's no way to segment them
It affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi - your work laptop, your phone, your kids' devices, your security cameras. Not the most urgent threat on the page, but a real edge an attacker can use to reach the rest.
Show technical detail
Limited user security configuration: Spectrum locks down this gateway. You cannot configure advanced firewall rules, VPN, or device isolation.
-
A real gap that affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi
It affects every device sharing this Wi-Fi - your work laptop, your phone, your kids' devices, your security cameras. Not the most urgent threat on the page, but a real edge an attacker can use to reach the rest.
Show technical detail
ISP remote management: Spectrum can remotely access and configure this gateway by default.
-
Your Wi-Fi password can be captured by anyone within range of your home
Wi-Fi 5 uses WPA2 encryption, which has a known weakness (KRACK) that can let attackers near your home capture your Wi-Fi password. WPA3 fixes this and is supported on newer routers.
Show technical detail
Aging Wi-Fi 5 hardware: The RAC2V1A is Wi-Fi 5 era. Ask Spectrum about a Wi-Fi 6 gateway upgrade if your plan qualifies.
Everything on this network shares the gaps
💻 Work laptop & remote access
🏦 Online banking & passwords
📷 Security cameras & smart locks
👧 Kids' devices & school logins
📱 Every phone & tablet at home
🔊 Smart speakers & streaming
FCC & Ban Risk
81
/100
B
Supply chain · FCC status · CVEs · Patch support
Security Capabilities
12
/100
F
Zero-Trust · VPN · Segmentation · Monitoring
FCC & Ban Risk measures supply-chain exposure, government flags, and CVE history. Security Capabilities measures what the router can actually do to protect your network. How we score →
Device context
Manufacturer
Charter Communications (US) - Charter Communications Inc., Stamford, CT · hardware by Askey Computer, Taiwan
Country of origin
Built in Taiwan (Askey)
US gov status
FCC authorized - Not in scope
Security patches
Managed by Spectrum
Worth doing now
1
Change your Wi-Fi password and admin password from the printed defaults
2
Ask Spectrum about a Wi-Fi 6 gateway upgrade if available in your area
3
Use WPA2-AES encryption setting if available in the settings
4
We built Rio to score 8/8 on this framework. It’s the only router we track that does - and we’d tell you if another one did
🔒
Security capabilities comparison
Here's how your router compares to Rio across the 8 dimensions we built our framework around. (Yes, we made Rio.)
SPECTRUM
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
Locked
Available
Network Segmentation (VLANs)
Devices on your network are isolated from each other, so a hacked smart TV can't reach your laptop
Locked
Available
Router-Level VPN for All Devices
All traffic - including smart devices that can't run VPN apps - is encrypted before leaving your home
Locked
Available
Domain Allowlisting
Block everything except approved sites; more effective than trying to blacklist billions of harmful URLs
Locked
Available
Granular Password Control
Separate passwords per network zone - changing one doesn't affect others
Locked
Available
Guest Auto-Expiry
Guest devices are automatically removed when they leave; neighbors can't reconnect without re-approval
Locked
Available
Clean Supply Chain
Manufactured outside Chinese legal jurisdiction - not subject to China's National Intelligence Law
Available
Available
Active Threat Monitoring
Real-time detection of suspicious device behavior, unusual traffic patterns, and known attack signatures on your network
Locked
Available
Rio scores 8/8 - we built it to hit every dimension on this framework. Know a router that does? Tell us and we’ll add it.
Get Rio →
See all Spectrum models: Spectrum brand overview →
Rio goes behind your gateway and covers every gap on this list.
No new internet plan · Keep your Spectrum service · No ISP approval needed
Watch for new threats
If a new vulnerability is found for your Spectrum RAC2V1A, we'll email you. One email per incident. No spam.
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
Other Spectrum models
See all Spectrum models: Spectrum brand overview →
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.
Spectrum does not publish a public security patch log or end-of-life schedule for residential gateways. Patch status on this page is inferred from firmware release notes and third-party security advisories.
Full data source documentation: Scoring Methodology & Citations →