IFS NS3502-8P-2S User Manual
567
WEP
WEP is an acronym for
W
ired
E
quivalent
P
rivacy. WEP is a deprecated algorithm to secure IEEE
802.11 wireless networks. Wireless networks broadcast messages using radio, so are more
susceptible to eavesdropping than wired networks. When introduced in 1999, WEP was
intended to provide confidentiality comparable to that of a traditional wired network
(Wikipedia).
WiFi
WiFi is an acronym for
Wi
reless
Fi
delity. It is meant to be used generically when referring of any
type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, dual-band, etc. The term is promulgated by
the Wi-Fi Alliance.
WPA
WPA is an acronym for
W
i-Fi
P
rotected
A
ccess. It was created in response to several serious
weaknesses researchers had found in the previous system , Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).
WPA implements the majority of the IEEE 802.11i standard, and was intended as an
intermediate measure to take the place of WEP while 802.11i was prepared. WPA is specifically
designed to also work with pre-WPA wireless network interface cards (through firmware
upgrades), but not necessarily with first generation wireless access points. WPA2 implements
the full standard, but will not work with some older network cards (Wikipedia).
WPA-PSK
WPA-PSK is an acronym for
W
i-Fi
P
rotected
A
ccess -
P
re
S
hared
K
ey. WPA was designed to
enhance the security of wireless networks. There are two flavors of WPA: enterprise and
personal. Enterprise is meant for use with an IEEE 802.1X authentication server, which
distributes different keys to each user. Personal WPA utilizes less scalable 'pre-shared key' (PSK)
mode, where every allowed computer is given the same passphrase. In PSK mode, security
depends on the strength and secrecy of the passphrase. The design of WPA is based on a Draft 3
of the IEEE 802.11i standard (Wikipedia)
WPA-Radius
WPA-Radius is an acronym for
W
i-Fi
P
rotected
A
ccess - Radius (802.1X authentication server).
WPA was designed to enhance the security of wireless networks. There are two flavors of WPA:
enterprise and personal. Enterprise is meant for use with an IEEE 802.1X authentication server,
which distributes different keys to each user. Personal WPA utilizes less scalable 'pre-shared
key' (PSK) mode, where every allowed computer is given the same passphrase. In PSK mode,
security depends on the strength and secrecy of the passphrase. The design of WPA is based on
a Draft 3 of the IEEE 802.11i standard (Wikipedia)
WPS