What wifi security should i use

This temporary enhancement still has relatively poor security but is easier to configure. As the WiFi Alliance made this transition to a more advanced protocol, they had to keep some of the same elements of WEP so older devices would still be compatible. Unfortunately, this means vulnerabilities, such as the WiFi Protected Setup feature which can be hacked relatively easily , are still present in the updated version of WPA.

A year later, in , WiFi Protected Access 2 became available. WPA2 has stronger security and is easier to configure than the prior options. The only notable vulnerability of WPA2 is that once someone has access to the network, they can attack other devices connected to the network.

As vulnerabilities are recognized, advancements are made. WPA has a less secure encryption method and requires a shorter password, making it the weaker option.

However, if you have an older software, WPA can be utilized with minimal processing power and could be a better option for you than the WEP alternative. WPA2 has personal and enterprise options, making it ideal for home users and businesses.

This means more powerful hardware is needed to avoid lower network performance. This issue concerns older access points that were implemented before WPA2 and only support WPA2 via a firmware upgrade.

Most of the current access points have been supplied with more capable hardware. Using WPA is also a possibility when your access point regularly experiences high loads and the network speed suffers from the WPA2 usage. When security is the top priority then rolling back is not an option, instead one should seriously consider getting better access points.

Encryption Speed Depending on what security protocols you use the data speed can be affected. Use as many various characters in your WiFi network password as possible.

Hackers are interested in easier targets, if they can't break your password in several minutes, they will most likely move on to look for more vulnerable networks. Protecting Wi-Fi from hackers is one of the most important tasks in cybersecurity. Which is why the arrival of next-generation wireless security protocol WPA3 deserves your attention: Not only is it going to keep Wi-Fi connections safer, but also it will help save you from your own security shortcomings.

Here is what it offers:. Start with how WPA3 will protect you at home. A fundamental weakness of WPA2, the current wireless security protocol that dates back to , is that it lets hackers deploy a so-called offline dictionary attack to guess your password.

An attacker can take as many shots as they want at guessing your credentials without being on the same network, cycling through the entire dictionary — and beyond — in relatively short order. WPA3 will protect against dictionary attacks by implementing a new key exchange protocol. WPA3 will ditch that in favor of the more secure — and widely vetted — Simultaneous Authentication of Equals handshake.

The other benefit comes in the event that your password gets compromised nonetheless. With this new handshake, WPA3 supports forward secrecy, meaning that any traffic that came across your transom before an outsider gained access will remain encrypted. With WPA2, they can decrypt old traffic as well. When WPA2 came along in , the Internet of Things had not yet become anything close to the all-consuming security horror that is its present-day hallmark.

No wonder, then, that WPA2 offered no streamlined way to safely onboard these devices to an existing Wi-Fi network.

That led to the recycling of some of the elements in the WEP system. WPA2 still has vulnerabilities, but manufacturers are quick to provide security patch updates to counter those. As a user, you should also update your device with these security patches as soon as they are out.

Advanced Encryption Standard AES is a standard of encryption established by the US government in to protect classified information. If hackers are able to breach your network, they could steal important information, like bank details, or even your identity. Make sure to buy a router with the highest level of security possible. Now that you know why WPA2 is the most secure, apply it to your router for improved protection of your online information.

WPA3 is the new kid on the block, and you can find it in routers produced in With this new format, WPA3 brings better encryption on public networks to prevent hackers from harvesting information from them. It's also easier to connect to a WPA3 router with a device with no display, and it has some additional features to protect against brute force attacks. It's likely to be the new WPA standard in the future, so it's a good idea to find out everything you need to know about WPA3.

Knowing your Wi-Fi security protocol is essential for your network's security. Older protocols are more vulnerable than newer ones and are far likelier to suffer a hacking attempt. There are two reasons why older versions are weaker than newer ones:. Now you understand why checking the type is essential and what you should be using, and why older protocols aren't as good.

So, let's explore how you check your connection type to ensure you're using the best. On Windows 10, find the Wi-Fi Connection icon in the taskbar. Click it, then click Properties underneath your current Wi-Fi connection.

Scroll down, and look for the Wi-Fi details under Properties. Under that, look for Security Type, which displays your Wi-Fi protocol. Checking the Wi-Fi security type on macOS is very easy. Hold down the Option key and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the toolbar.