Over the past decades, Wi-Fi networks have become a necessity, not an extra thing for tech-savvy people. It also means more threat actors are now focusing on Wi-Fi network vulnerabilities to access your network and data. One method to prevent these attacks is choosing the best Wi-Fi security protocols. However, technical terms like WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 can be confusing at times. Fret not; I have explained all these terms in this article.
What is Wireless Security?
Wireless security refers to a set of technologies and features that protect your wireless network from threat actors, unauthorized access, and other issues. It also ensures that data transferred between two connected devices stays secure and encrypted. This way, a third party cannot intercept the information.
In simpler words, wireless security keeps your wireless network secure.
As you can imagine, different networks have unique security requirements. For instance, a business cannot use a wireless network with the same level of security you’d find on residential Wi-Fi networks. So, one needs to rely on multiple standards and protocols to ensure that everything works fine.
How Does Wireless Security Work?
Before we talk more about Wi-Fi security protocols, you need to understand how wireless security works. I already told you that wireless security isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. Instead, they require customization and scalability at their core. Regardless, wireless security needs to fulfill the following requirements in most network environments:
- Authentication: This aspect of wireless security ensures that devices pass an authentication stage before joining a network. This process involves a handshake where the devices need to give a network security key. In the case of a Wi-Fi network, the router will check whether the device enters the correct key.
- Encryption: A network needs to encrypt the information shared between devices to prevent threat actors and third parties from intercepting the data. This process works by converting data into a form that people cannot read without an encryption key. So, even if someone has access to the network, they cannot use the data.
- Access Control: Wireless networks need additional measures to stop third parties from accessing the network. Some of these methods include a firewall, hidden SSID, and MAC filtering. A robust wireless security suite will take care of these aspects, ensuring that only verified devices can access the Wi-Fi network.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that you can come up with random combinations and setups. Doing so would make everything un-scalable and portable. Also, you run the risk of having a standard configuration that you can use to protect your network.
Fortunately, this is where wireless security protocols come in.
What Are Wireless Security Protocols?
Wireless security protocols are established standards that you can implement when it comes to securing Wi-Fi networks, among other environments. When you implement one of the security standards, your network is secured using a set of measures for authentication, encryption, and access control.
As I mentioned, multiple security protocols have been developed over time. You know the cycle, right? Whenever there are security measures, threat actors find ways to bypass them. So, we have new sets of security protocols.
In this case, we shall talk about the different wireless security protocols that are active these days.
Types of Wireless Security Protocols
For reference, these wireless security protocols deal with encryption. So, when you move to a newer security protocol, you should expect better encryption, among other advantages. However, these new protocols can offer improvement in terms of authentication, handshake, and access control as well.
#1. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
Wired Equivalent Privacy, commonly known as WEP, was the first wireless security protocol to exist. As you may guess from its name, the WEP protocol aimed to provide wireless networks with a level of privacy that wired networks had. It offered standard-level encryption to achieve this objective. As part of the IEEE 802.11 standard, WEP was introduced in 1997. Though it was the first step, WEP did not have a long run.
Vulnerabilities
Threat actors were quick to recognize the multiple issues with the Wired Equivalent Privacy protocol. One of the most significant issues was that it used the RC4 algorithm encryption. This was so weak that breaking the encryption took only a few minutes.
The use of static keys also made things worse because once compromised, the network keys gave indefinite access. Open System and Shared Key authentication methods used by the protocol were also sub-optimal. Hackers could easily intercept data and inject payload leveraging a combination of these issues.
Deprecation
In short, while WEP was an improvement from having no security at all, it was not suitable for most instances, especially enterprise scenarios. In light of these serious concerns, the IEEE deprecated in 2004. It was soon replaced by WPA.
Current Status
You must not use the WEP protocol for your residential or enterprise networks, especially the latter. In fact, you cannot find any Wi-Fi router that supports WEP in the first place. The WEP protocol has become extinct in the years after 2004.
#2. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
Wi-Fi Protected Access, better known as WPA, had its debut in 2003. The Wi-Fi Alliance released this security protocol as an improved replacement for WEP, which, as I said, was deprecated in 2004. An important thing here is that WPA has remained the default security standard. However, in the subsequent years, the Wi-Fi Alliance and IEEE have come up with improved versions of the same.
Improvements & Limitations
WPA used the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol for encryption, making it a more reliable security standard in most instances. In addition, its use of Extensible Authentication Protocol also makes sure that the network stays secure from third parties. In doing so, WPA did great as an interim solution. That is, WPA gave time for the Wi-Fi Alliance to build something better.
However, because WPA was a quick solution, it had a few limitations, primarily caused by the use of the RC4 algorithm for encryption. Similarly, networks that used WPA remained prone to some attacks. More so, the increasing demand for Wi-Fi security made WPA a sub-optimal wireless security protocol.
Current Status
Although Wi-Fi Protected Access is not officially deprecated, it is considered outdated. The Wi-Fi Alliance has been recommending the use of WPA2 and WPA3 instead of WPA. So, if you have a home or enterprise Wi-Fi network, you should stay away from WPA.
You might still come across Wi-Fi routers that have WPA as an option. However, you should choose WPA2 if you need the best security possible.
#3. Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2)
Wi-Fi Protected Access II, commonly called WPA2, was introduced in 2004 and was part of the IEEE 802.11i standard. Unlike WPA, WPA2 was a definite improvement and a fully-fledged wireless protocol. In spite of being two decades old, WPA2 remains a widely used wireless security protocol, and even the most modern Wi-Fi routers have the option to implement WPA2.
Enhancements over WPA
The most significant upgrade of WPA2 over WPA is the adoption of the Advanced Encryption Standard, which offers a new level of encryption for all kinds of communications. It also introduced Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP). WPA2 also introduced two operational modes, namely Personal (PSK) and Enterprise (802.1X).
In doing so, WPA2 became a huge improvement over WPA2, offering stronger authentication methods and data integrity checks. The security protocol introduced more features for the WPA2-Enterprise operational mode as well. This mode provides 802.1X authentication alongside centralized management and security for an extensive network.
Vulnerabilities
Though WPA2 remained the strongest option for almost a decade, threat actors found vulnerabilities in the security protocol. In 2017, the world came to know about KRACK, which stands for Key Reinstallation Attack. Similarly, networks using weak security keys were prone to dictionary-based and brute-force attacks. It also opened up backdoors for other attack vectors.
Current Status And Usage
Despite the many vulnerabilities, WPA2 remains a widely used and supported wireless security protocol as of 2025. However, it is not the ideal option available in the market. If you are looking for maximum security for your home or enterprise network, you must choose WPA3 over WPA2. Even so, using WPA2 is not that bad if you have compatibility concerns.
#4. Wi-Fi Protected Access III (WPA3)
Now, we come to Wi-Fi Protected Access III, better known as WPA3. WPA3 is the successor of WPA2, which was a powerful security protocol on its own. Nevertheless, WPA3 has been optimized to offer comprehensive protection from focused brute-force attacks. So, those who upgrade from WPA2 to WPA3 can enjoy a few key features and improved protection.
Improvements
Compared to WPA2, WPA3 offers a better encryption algorithm, as it replaces the 128-bit AES encryption with GCMP-256 encryption. Similarly, it introduced 192-bit encryption for enterprise networks. This use of military-grade encryption makes the WPA3 protocol ideal for enterprise needs. It also replaced Pre-Shared Key (PSK) with Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE).
These changes, alongside Opportunistic Wireless Encryption and Forward Secrecy, have made WPA3 a great option compared to all previous wireless security protocols. Like WPA2, WPA3 also offers two operational modes: WPA3-Personal and WPA3-Enterprise. While the Personal mode uses SAE and allows non-complex passwords, the Enterprise mode makes use of the 192-bit encryption method.
Current Status
As of 2025, WPA3 is the best wireless security protocol you can use. The Wi-Fi Alliance mandates the support for WPA3 for Wi-Fi 6 routers out there. Even so, most of these Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6 routers offer backward compatibility with WPA2 and WPA. So, if you have one of those legacy devices, you can still use WPA2/WPA.
Common Wi-Fi Security Threats
Let’s now look at some common Wi-Fi security threats.
Unauthorized Access
Despite the best efforts, unauthorized access remains the biggest threat to Wi-Fi network security. Hackers and other threat actors gain unauthorized access to the network to infect other devices on the network or steal bandwidth. A strong password, firewall, and authentication management system offer protection from these threats.
Eavesdropping And Data Interception
Data interception is another concern, as it allows threat actors to steal sensitive information that is shared through the network. For instance, a third party on the network can steal your banking username/password by monitoring the network. You run this risk while using a WEP-protocol public network. New protocols can thwart such attacks thanks to powerful encryption.
Evil Twin Attacks
Evil twin Wi-Fi attacks are becoming common across the world. Threat actors employ this method to create a fake Wi-Fi network that people might join. When someone connects to this fake network, their data will be exposed. However, keep in mind that evil twin attacks focus more on user behavior than the Wi-Fi network protocol.
As you can guess, this list is not exhaustive by any means.
Which Wireless Security Protocol Should I Choose?
Here’s how you can choose the best wireless security protocol for your network
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Protocol
You should consider factors like the type of network, number of clients, and data sensitivity while choosing a wireless security protocol. However, you should also check for potential compatibility issues. For instance, you may have legacy devices that do not work with WPA2 or WPA3. In those cases, you must have a router that offers backward compatibility with WPA2 or WPA.
With modern consumer-centric devices, compatibility will not be a concern. You can choose a device of your choice. However, things are different in enterprise environments, where you may find legacy devices along with modern ones.
Recommendations Based on Device Compatibility and Security Needs
Here are some quick recommendations based on two pointers: compatibility and security.
- WPA3 is the best choice if you have modern routers and devices. It offers the best security in both Personal and Enterprise operational modes, thanks to GCMP-256 encryption and OWE.
- WPA2 is the second-best option if you have devices that do not support WPA3. Despite being over a decade old, WPA2 offers standard security and works with most devices.
- WPA and WEP are the worst choices you can make. While WEP is terribly outdated, WPA uses some of the weakest encryption algorithms. If you ask me, you can upgrade those WEP/WPA-only clients instead of making your network use the WPA/WEP protocol.
The easy choice? Go for WPA3 whenever you can.
Best Practices for Securing Your Wi-Fi Network
Here are some quick steps you can follow to secure your Wi-Fi network.
- Regardless of the security protocols you choose, ensure the use of strong passwords. The password must be unique and unguessable. Such passwords can protect your networks from dictionary attacks.
- Make sure you update the router firmware every once in a while. These updates contain bug fixes as well as security improvements. These work on top of the standard security from the protocol.
- Merely using a wireless security protocol is not enough. You need to complement these systems with firewalls and other measures, especially in enterprise scenarios.
- For residential networks, make use of guest networks and kid networks instead of sharing a single network with everyone.
Conclusion
As long as you choose the right wireless security protocol and protective measures, you can keep your Wi-Fi network safe and private. The classification between WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 is also simple because they move in a single direction towards betterment.
