Wi-Fi Alliance Announces WPA3 To Significantly Boost Wireless Security And Privacy

The Wi-Fi Alliance has announced that it has added new enhancements and features to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) that will make the feature more secure. The new features include configuration, authentication, and encryption enhancements across the portfolio to ensure that Wi-Fi Certified devices are using state of the art security protections.

The Wi-Fi Alliance wrote, “WPA2 provides reliable security used in billions of Wi-Fi devices every day, and will continue to be deployed in Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices for the foreseeable future. Wi-Fi Alliance will continue enhancing WPA2 to ensure it delivers strong security protections to Wi-Fi users as the security landscape evolves. New testing enhancements will also reduce the potential for vulnerabilities due to network misconfiguration, and further safeguard managed networks with centralized authentication services.”

The Alliance has also rolled out a new suite of features aiming to simply Wi-Fi security configuration for users and service providers. There are four new capabilities that have been added specifically for personal and enterprise Wi-Fi networks to improve the security protections in 2018 that are all part of Wi-Fi Certified WPA3.

One of the new features are aimed at improving protection when users choose passwords that aren’t complex enough. It is also making the process of configuring devices easier when those devices lack screens or have limited display is another new feature being integrated (this is critical to the growing IoT movement). The other new feature is to strengthen privacy when using open networks via individualized data encryption. A 192-bit security suite is also being implemented to further protect wireless networks and to meet higher security requirements needed in some industries.

“Security is a foundation of Wi-Fi Alliance certification programs, and we are excited to introduce new features to the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED family of security solutions,” said Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “The Wi-Fi CERTIFIED designation means Wi-Fi devices meet the highest standards for interoperability and security protections.”

“Wi-Fi security technologies may live for decades, so it’s important they are continually updated to ensure they meet the needs of the Wi-Fi industry,” said Joe Hoffman, SAR Insight & Consulting. “Wi-Fi is evolving to maintain its high-level of security as industry demands increase.”