What's the difference between WPA and WPA2?

WPA2 is an upgraded version of WPA with more advanced security features and stronger encryption.

Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and Wireless Protected Access II (WPA2) are both security protocols developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer networks. WPA was introduced in 2003 as an interim solution to the security flaws found in WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). However, WPA still had vulnerabilities, which led to the development of WPA2, introduced in 2004.

WPA uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for encryption. TKIP was designed to provide more secure encryption than WEP, but it was only a temporary solution. It was built on the existing WEP infrastructure, which made it easier to upgrade existing hardware, but it also meant that it inherited some of the vulnerabilities of WEP.

On the other hand, WPA2 uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption, which is a more secure method. AES is a robust encryption standard used by the U.S. government for encrypting classified information, making it a very secure choice for wireless encryption. WPA2 also introduced a new feature called the Robust Secure Network (RSN) which provides a higher level of security by continuously validating the security of the wireless connection.

Another key difference between WPA and WPA2 is the introduction of a new authentication method in WPA2 called the Pre-Shared Key (PSK). This method allows for a more secure connection by requiring a password to connect to the wireless network. This password is then used to create a unique encryption key for each wireless client, making it much harder for unauthorised users to gain access to the network.

In summary, while both WPA and WPA2 provide security for wireless networks, WPA2 offers a higher level of security with stronger encryption and more advanced features. It's important to note that as technology advances, so do the methods used by hackers to exploit vulnerabilities. Therefore, it's always recommended to use the most up-to-date security protocol available.