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Wireless encryption

  • The security setting defines the type of authentication and encryption used by the router, and the level of privacy protection for data transmitted over its network.

WEP

  • WEP: Wired Equivalent Privacy
  • Uses an algorithm called RC4
  • Each packet is encrypted using a unique key stream
  • A random initialization vector (IV) with 24 bits is used to generate the key streams
  • IV + Key = key stream

WPA3 Personal

  • Wi-Fi Protected Access - Personal
  • It's the newest, most secure protocol currently available for Wi-Fi devices
  • It works with all devices that support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and some older devices

WPA2/WPA3 Transitional

  • It's a mixed mode that uses WPA3 Personal with devices that support that protocol, while allowing older devices to use WPA2 Personal (AES) instead.

WPA2-Personal (WPA2-PSK)

  • Wi-Fi Protected Access - Personal or Wi-Fi Protected Access - Pre-Shared Key
  • Can use encryption TKIP or AES
  • It's appropriate when you can't use one of the more secure modes
  • In that case, also choose AES as the encryption or cipher type, if available.

Unsecure security settings

  • WPA/WPA2 mixed modes
  • WPA Personal
  • WEP, including WEP Open, WEP Shared, WEP Transitional Security Network, or Dynamic WEP (WEP with 802.1X)
  • TKIP, including any security setting with TKIP in the name