just now installed goodies for this little Cudy USB WiFi adapter (cheap thangs on  'Amazom' )
they been say'n for long while it's NO good in Debian k6x
worky very well for me :-) & yea, after install below I did a shutdown and removed the Linksys AE600, booted her up and
only had to remove all known WiFi networks --- put in password to my router and all is very good...

mrjcd@OMG-Deb:~$ su -
Password: 
root@OMG-Deb:~# lsusb
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 058f:6362 Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Card Reader/Writer
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0bda:c811 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 802.11ac NIC
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 13b1:003e Linksys AE6000 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wireless Adapter [MediaTek MT7610U]
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 413c:301a Dell Computer Corp. Dell MS116 Optical Mouse
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 413c:2005 Dell Computer Corp. RT7D50 Keyboard
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
root@OMG-Deb:~# aptitude install -y linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential bc dkms git libelf-dev rfkill iw
build-essential is already installed at the requested version (12.9)
bc is already installed at the requested version (1.07.1-3+b1)
iw is already installed at the requested version (5.19-1)
build-essential is already installed at the requested version (12.9)
bc is already installed at the requested version (1.07.1-3+b1)
iw is already installed at the requested version (5.19-1)
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  dkms git git-man{a} libelf-dev liberror-perl{a} linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86{a} linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64 
  linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common{a} linux-headers-amd64{a} linux-kbuild-6.1{a} rfkill zlib1g-dev{a} 
0 packages upgraded, 12 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 22.6 MB of archives. After unpacking 113 MB will be used.
Get: 1 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 dkms all 3.0.10-6 [47.6 kB]
Get: 2 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 liberror-perl all 0.17029-2 [29.0 kB]
Get: 3 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 git-man all 1:2.39.2-1 [2,049 kB]
Get: 4 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 git amd64 1:2.39.2-1 [7,179 kB]
Get: 5 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 zlib1g-dev amd64 1:1.2.13.dfsg-1 [916 kB]
Get: 6 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 libelf-dev amd64 0.188-2.1 [72.9 kB]
Get: 7 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86 amd64 6.1.12-1 [587 kB]
Get: 8 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common all 6.1.12-1 [9,735 kB]
Get: 9 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 linux-kbuild-6.1 amd64 6.1.12-1 [844 kB]                         
Get: 10 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64 amd64 6.1.12-1 [1,116 kB]           
Get: 11 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 linux-headers-amd64 amd64 6.1.12-1 [1,416 B]                    
Get: 12 https://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm/main amd64 rfkill amd64 2.38.1-5 [34.0 kB]                                 
Fetched 22.6 MB in 10s (2,192 kB/s)                                                                                       
Selecting previously unselected package dkms.
(Reading database ... 249349 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../00-dkms_3.0.10-6_all.deb ...
Unpacking dkms (3.0.10-6) ...
Selecting previously unselected package liberror-perl.
Preparing to unpack .../01-liberror-perl_0.17029-2_all.deb ...
Unpacking liberror-perl (0.17029-2) ...
Selecting previously unselected package git-man.
Preparing to unpack .../02-git-man_1%3a2.39.2-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking git-man (1:2.39.2-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package git.
Preparing to unpack .../03-git_1%3a2.39.2-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking git (1:2.39.2-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package zlib1g-dev:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../04-zlib1g-dev_1%3a1.2.13.dfsg-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking zlib1g-dev:amd64 (1:1.2.13.dfsg-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package libelf-dev:amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../05-libelf-dev_0.188-2.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking libelf-dev:amd64 (0.188-2.1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86.
Preparing to unpack .../06-linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86_6.1.12-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86 (6.1.12-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common.
Preparing to unpack .../07-linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common_6.1.12-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common (6.1.12-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-kbuild-6.1.
Preparing to unpack .../08-linux-kbuild-6.1_6.1.12-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-kbuild-6.1 (6.1.12-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../09-linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64_6.1.12-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64 (6.1.12-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package linux-headers-amd64.
Preparing to unpack .../10-linux-headers-amd64_6.1.12-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking linux-headers-amd64 (6.1.12-1) ...
Selecting previously unselected package rfkill.
Preparing to unpack .../11-rfkill_2.38.1-5_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking rfkill (2.38.1-5) ...
Setting up dkms (3.0.10-6) ...
Setting up linux-compiler-gcc-12-x86 (6.1.12-1) ...
Setting up liberror-perl (0.17029-2) ...
Setting up linux-headers-6.1.0-5-common (6.1.12-1) ...
Setting up rfkill (2.38.1-5) ...
Setting up zlib1g-dev:amd64 (1:1.2.13.dfsg-1) ...
Setting up git-man (1:2.39.2-1) ...
Setting up linux-kbuild-6.1 (6.1.12-1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-6.1.0-5-amd64 (6.1.12-1) ...
/etc/kernel/header_postinst.d/dkms:
dkms: running auto installation service for kernel 6.1.0-5-amd64:.
Setting up libelf-dev:amd64 (0.188-2.1) ...
Setting up git (1:2.39.2-1) ...
Setting up linux-headers-amd64 (6.1.12-1) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.11.2-1) ...
                                         
root@OMG-Deb:~# mkdir -p ~/src
root@OMG-Deb:~# cd ~/src
root@OMG-Deb:~/src# git clone https://github.com/morrownr/8821cu-20210916.git
Cloning into '8821cu-20210916'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 1405, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (198/198), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (146/146), done.
remote: Total 1405 (delta 113), reused 106 (delta 50), pack-reused 1207
Receiving objects: 100% (1405/1405), 14.18 MiB | 4.21 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (662/662), done.
root@OMG-Deb:~/src# cd ~/src/8821cu-20210916
root@OMG-Deb:~/src/8821cu-20210916# ./install-driver.sh
: ---------------------------
: install-driver.sh v20230227
: x86_64 (architecture)
: 2/2 (in-use/total processing units)
: 11999716 (total system memory)
: 6.1.0-5-amd64 (kernel version)
: gcc (Debian 12.2.0-14) 12.2.0
: dkms-3.0.10
: ---------------------------

Checking for previously installed drivers.
: ---------------------------

Starting installation.
Installing 8821cu.conf to /etc/modprobe.d
The dkms installation routines are in use.
Copying source files to /usr/src/rtl8821cu-5.12.0.4
Creating symlink /var/lib/dkms/rtl8821cu/5.12.0.4/source -> /usr/src/rtl8821cu-5.12.0.4
The driver was added to dkms successfully.
: ---------------------------
Sign command: /usr/lib/linux-kbuild-6.1/scripts/sign-file
Signing key: /var/lib/dkms/mok.key
Public certificate (MOK): /var/lib/dkms/mok.pub
Certificate or key are missing, generating self signed certificate for MOK...

Building module:
Cleaning build area...
./dkms-make.sh....................................................................
Signing module /var/lib/dkms/rtl8821cu/5.12.0.4/build/8821cu.ko
Cleaning build area...
The driver was built by dkms successfully.
: ---------------------------

8821cu.ko:
Running module version sanity check.
 - Original module
   - No original module exists within this kernel
 - Installation
   - Installing to /lib/modules/6.1.0-5-amd64/updates/dkms/
depmod.....
The driver was installed by dkms successfully.
: ---------------------------

Info: Upgrade this driver with the following commands as needed:
$ git pull
$ sudo sh install-driver.sh
Note: Upgrades to this driver should be performed before distro upgrades.
Note: Upgrades can be performed as often as you like.
Note: Work on this driver is continuous.
: ---------------------------

Do you want to edit the driver options file now? (recommended) [Y/n] n
Do you want to apply the new options by rebooting now? (recommended) [Y/n] n
root@OMG-Deb:~/src/8821cu-20210916# cd
root@OMG-Deb:~# dkms status
rtl8821cu/5.12.0.4, 6.1.0-5-amd64, x86_64: installed
root@OMG-Deb:~# date
Thu Mar  9 12:25:35 PM CST 2023
root@OMG-Deb:~# neofetch
       _,met$$$$$gg.          root@OMG-Deb 
    ,g$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$P.       ------------ 
  ,g$$P"     """Y$$.".        OS: Debian GNU/Linux bookworm/sid x86_64 
 ,$$P'              `$$$.     Host: CM1630 
',$$P       ,ggs.     `$$b:   Kernel: 6.1.0-5-amd64 
`d$$'     ,$P"'   .    $$$    Uptime: 21 hours, 12 mins 
 $$P      d$'     ,    $$P    Packages: 2635 (dpkg) 
 $$:      $$.   -    ,d$$'    Shell: bash 5.2.15 
 $$;      Y$b._   _,d$P'      Resolution: 1920x1080 
 Y$$.    `.`"Y$$$$P"'         Terminal: gnome-terminal 
 `$$b      "-.__              CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 220 (2) @ 2.800GHz 
  `Y$$                        GPU: AMD ATI Radeon 3000 
   `Y$$.                      Memory: 1411MiB / 11718MiB 
     `$$b.
       `Y$$b.                                         
          `"Y$b._
              `"""

root@OMG-Deb:~#