Which Wi-Fi encryption method should never be used?

802.11 wireless networking technologies have changed a lot through the years. In 2001, a cryptographic vulnerability was found in one 802.11 encryption method. Which encryption type should never be used on an 802.11 wireless network?

A) WEP

B) WPA

C) WPA2

D) SSID

The answer: A) WEP

Wired Equivalency Privacy turned out to be not as private as a wired connection. The vulnerability identified in WEP allowed someone with a wireless card and just a few minutes of time to determine your encryption key and decrypt the traffic flowing across your wireless network. Although wireless access points still provide an option for WEP, you shouldn’t ever use this encryption on anyone’s network!

Want to know more? Watch “Wireless Security.” A wireless network provides excellent mobility, but it also creates a number of security concerns. In this video, we’ll discuss wireless encryption types and aspects of access point security that include MAC filtering, SSID management, IP addressing, and firmware.