Wireless networks are secured using both the WPA(Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2 security protocols. They were created to improve Wi-Fi network security and encryption while addressing problems in the original WEP(Wired Equivalent Privacy) protocol.
A better encryption standard for protecting Wi-Fi networks, known as Wi-Fi protected access(WPA), was introduced in 2003. It was created to overcome the WEP static key issue provide stronger data encryption and use authentication on wireless networks.
What is Wi-Fi Protected Access 2(WPA2)?
A better variant of the WPA wireless security protocol is WPA2. WPA2, which was introduced in 2004 and is now widely used, is regarded as the industry standard for protecting Wi-Fi networks. WPA2 is used by most routers and Wi-Fi connections.
WPA Vs WPA2 | Difference between WPA and WPA2
- WPA stands for Wi-Fi protected access, and WPA2 stands for Wi-Fi protected Access2.
- WPA is a security protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2003 for us in securing wireless networks, designed to replace the WEP protocol. WPA2 is also a security protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2004 for use in securing wireless networks, designed to replace the WEP and WPA protocols.
- WPA is superior to WEP, interior to WPA2, WPA2 is recommended over WEP and WPA and is more secure when Wi-Fi protected setup(WPS) is disabled. It is not recommended over WPA3.
- WPA does not provide enterprise solutions, WPA2 provides enterprise solutions.
- WPA does not require new hardware, In contrast, WPA2 requires new hardware that features 2006 and a model of network interface cards(NIC)
- WPA is a temporary solution to WEP problems, WPA still uses WEP's insecure RC4 stream cipher but provides extra security through TKIP. WPA2 uses the AES standard rather than the RC4 stream cipher, in contrast to WEP and WPA. WPA's TKIP is replaced by CCMP.
- The data integrity method for WPA is Message Integrity Code(MIC), On the other hand, the WPA2 data integrity method is Cipher Block Chaining Message(CBC-MAC).
- WPA is easy to deploy and configure, But WPA2 requires a complicated setup, especially with WPA2-EAP.
- WPA requires minimal processing power, and WPA2 requires more processing power.