Follow the guidelines described here to make your Asus RT-AC53U Dual-band wireless-AC1200 router more secure from unwanted access to your router’s wireless network.

1. Set the wireless network encryption on your Asus RT-AC53U router as WPA2-AES:

After performing QIS (Quick Internet Setup) through logging into the router via router.asus.com, the router setup wizard will set WPA2-AES as your default encryption. You must set up your Asus RT-AC53U in WPA2-AES encryption for securing your router until and unless there is no special requirement.                                                                             

2. Set up separate login and wireless passwords for Asus RT-AC53U wireless network and Web GUI

 It is advised to setup different password for router.asus.com login to web GUI and to access the wireless network. This will keep the users who know the wireless network password from logging in Web GUI through router.asus.com.

3. Change default passwords to set secure and complex passwords

Setup the router.asus.com login and wireless network access – SSID and security key from default preset passwords to secured passwords with more than 8 digits paired with the capital letters, numbers, or special characters to increase the security level of password. 

4. Update your Asus RT-AC53U router to the latest firmware version

You must update your Asus RT-AC53U router to new version of firmware whenever it is available for download as the newer versions are added with new security fixes. You can check for newer firmware updates availability via Web GUI through router.asus.com login or through ASUS Router app and update the firmware.

5. Enable the firewall on Asus RT-AC53U router network. 

Access the Firewall setting page through router.asus.com login in the Advanced Settings. Enable the firewall from the settings. Please do not disable the firewall if there is no special requirement.

6. Enable AiProtection

Enable AiProtection on your Asus RT-AC53U router via router.asus.com as it protects your router and connected LAN devices from any serious and potential threats and increases the security level of your router thereby enhancing the wireless security.

7. Disable the access to your Asus RT-AC53U router from WAN 

Accessing the WAN lets you access the router from the internet, therefore, it is advised to not to enable WAN as it already disabled by default. You can access the WAN settings through router.asus.com login to router’s web GUI from Advanced Settings, and then clicking on Remote Access Config under Administration settings.

9. Allow specified IP address only to log into Asus RT-AC53U router’s web GUI

Access the Advanced Settings of the Asus RT-AC53U router through router.asus.com to allow only Specified IP Address login to the web GUI of the router, which enhances the security level for your wireless network.

10. Set up Wireless MAC Address Filter for your Asus RT-AC53U router’s wireless network

router.asus.com : How to create a Guest Network in ASUS RT- AC5300

Access the Advanced Settings of the Asus RT-AC53U router through router.asus.com to setup Wireless MAC Address Filter by Changing the MAC filter mode to Accept and add specific MAC address to your list. This will allow only  devices in the list to connect to your Asus RT-AC53U router’s router.