The wireless security system used for protecting Wi-Fi networks includes WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), however, their levels of protection and efficiency differ. It is important to remember that WPA2/WPA3 should be used for improved security because WEP and WPA are both regarded as being out of date. So let us discuss about the difference between WEP and WPA to better understand this topic.
A security system for wireless networks called wired equivalent privacy(WEP) offers data secrecy similar to that of a typical wired network. It first appeared in 1999. It uses an encryption key to ensure wireless security. Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) is an antiquated encryption technique that is used. It employs a 24-bit random integer and a 40-bit key.
Wi-Fi-protected access (WPA) is a security protocol used to protect wireless networks and was created to take the role of the WEP protocol. The Wi-Fi Alliance created it in 2003. It was created to take the place of the WEP protocol and encrypt data using temporal key integrity protocol and rivest cipher 4. The 256-bit WPA key is used.
WEP Vs WPA | Difference between WEP and WPA
- WEP stands for wired equivalent privacy, and WPA stands for Wi-Fi-protected access.
- WEP is a security protocol for wireless networks that provides data confidentiality comparable to a traditional wired network. WPA is a security protocol that is used in securing wireless networks and is designed to replace the WEP protocol.
- Before WPA, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) was launched in 1999. The Wi-Fi Alliance created Wi-Fi-protected access (WPA) in 2003, which is when WEP was first introduced.
- Data privacy(Encryption) method is rivest cipher 4(RC4), Data privacy(Encryption) method is rivest cipher 4 (RC4), and the temporal key integrity protocol (TKIP).
- The authentication method is WEP is open system authentication or shared key authentication. The authentication method in WPA is WPA-PSK and WPA enterprise.
- WEP offers wireless security by using an encryption key. WPA uses a password to offer wireless security.
- Key management is not provided in WEP, Key management is provided through a 4-way handshaking mechanism in WPA.
- Data integrity is provided through CRC 32, and Data integrity is provided through message integrity code.
- In WEP no protection against replay attacks, In WPA sequence counter is implemented for replay protection.
- WEP uses a 40-bit key and a 24-bit random number, WPA key is a 256-bit key.
- WEP is possible to deploy on current hardware infrastructure. WPA is possible to deploy on both previous and current hardware infrastructure.
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