Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)

From Clinfowiki
Jump to: navigation, search

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and the newer WPA2 are security protocols for wireless internet networks. [1]

Introduction

WPA was developed largely in part due to the weaknesses inherent in the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) protocol. WPA utilizes Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to encrypt the wireless traffic. WPA2 added Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which offers even greater security than TKIP. [2] [3]

WPA2 is available on many modern, and a great number of legacy, devices. WPA2 is important in the realm of healthcare as many mobile computing devices are in use in the clinical setting. Ensuring that sensitive data remains secure, private and confidential is a high priority for heath care organizations. Whenever data is sent over a network there must be care taken to ensure that only the intended recipients receive it. Without encrypting wireless data it is fairly easy for breaches to occur as the data can be read without decryption. WPA2 offers 256-bit data encryption and is required for all new devices that wish to comply with the Wi-Fi Alliance "WIFI CERTIFIED" product endorsement.

Weaknesses

WPA2 is not without weakness. Researchers have discovered a method of gathering keys and decrypting network data. [4]

References

  1. Wikipedia: WiFi protected access http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access
  2. Dummies: Understanding WEP Weaknesses. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-wep-weaknesses.html
  3. Wikipedia: Advanced Encryption Standard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Encryption_Standard
  4. WPA2 vulnerability found http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/wireless/2010/072610wireless1.html