How is WPA3 WiFi security different from WPA2?
The latest WPA3 WiFi standard is already here, so today we'll tell you what has changed from WPA2 to WPA3, as well as what exactly this WPA is and why you should pay attention to the type of encryption you use in your W-Fi network.
First we will explain what is this WPA WiFi and then we will tell you what has changed from WPA2 (the latest version to date) and the new WPA3. Talking about security and encryption is always a tricky topic, so we'll explain it to you using as few technicalities as possible.
What is this about WPA?
WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access, a security protocol used in Wi-Fi networks and certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance Foundation. WPA3 will be, as its name indicates, the third major revision of WPA, whose first version was launched in 2003, fifteen years ago. The second version, the most widespread today, would arrive a year later, in 2004.
The purpose of security protocols such as WPA is that the data transmitted over a Wi-Fi network is private and can not be intercepted by a third party. This is especially important when shopping or banking while you are connected to a Wi-Fi network that is not your home network. WPA is a standard related only to security, which should not be confused with WiFi AC b / g / n and the like.
WPA came to replace the WEP standard, whose security was so clearly compromised that even the FBI itself demonstrated how easy it was to skip protection in a couple of minutes, with the appropriate software.
WPA solved the problems of WEP security, but ended up being also vulnerable to attacks, mainly in its TKIP component. TKIP (acronym for Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) recycled several elements of the previous WEP, and were also exploited by attackers. So WPA2 came, which also ended up being violated last year. WPA3 is the latest version, already finished, although we will not start to see it integrated significantly until next year.
How is WPA3 different from WPA2?
WPA3 comes to replace WPA2, which can no longer be considered absolutely secure. WPA3 networks may prevent devices that only support WPA2 from connecting, although initially it is more likely that the transitional mode will prevail, which allows the connection of both WPA2 and WPA3 devices.
192-bit encryption instead of 128 bits
The first big difference is encryption, which goes from using a 128-bit key to a 192-bit one. The larger the encryption key, the harder it is to break it, because it requires more powerful computers and more time to decipher the data by force.
Although experts argue that 128 bit is enough today in most cases, remember that WPA2 has been active for 15 years, so Wi-Fi Alliance must ensure that the latest standard is ready to support the step of time, when those 128 bits are no longer enough to ensure the security of your data.
Better protection, even with simple passwords
WPA3 is more secure even if the Wi-Fi connection key is not secure. In this sense, we talk about secure keys if they are long, complex and include rare symbols. Simple keys are more vulnerable to brute-force attacks in WPA2, but WPA3 is well protected against these attempts. The Wi-Fi Alliance ensures that the same type of attack that affected WPA2 security is a thing of the past with WPA3.
Simple configuration with another device
The third great novelty of WPA3 has full name, Wi-Fi Easy Connect. It is a new way to configure and connect to the network devices that have no screen or physical buttons, something increasingly typical with the explosion of the Internet of things. WPA2 did not have anything similar, except WPS, which has also been the target of several attacks and vulnerabilities in the past.
This novelty implies that you can use a more advanced device to configure another one that does not have a screen, such as a smart speaker. Following the example, this speaker would have a QR code that, when scanned with the mobile, would allow you to configure the connection to the network easily.