Wi-Fi routers hold an array of security protocols in order to secure wireless networks like WEP, WPA, and WPA2. Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) is suggested over WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) to prevent the intrusion. Apparently, the only negative aspect of WPA2 is processing power. It requires more powerful hardware to protect your network and its performance.
The only access-points that could be affected by this concern are the one that was put into practice before WPA2 and which only keep up with firmware up-gradation as compared to the current access points which support more capable hardware.
Moreover, there is a possibility of employing Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) when the access point on daily basis comes practically in contact with high loads and when the computing or the network speed deals with the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) handling.
Security has to be the foremost priority when it comes to the data protection and one has to consider using better access points with no delays.
WPA2 Security Vulnerability Warning
The negative aspects that have been recently reported are named Key Reinstallation Attacks which is also called as KRACK. Key Reinstallation Attack (KRACK) methods could be easily used to spy on the data and information that was concluded to have been kept protected back then.
Also, this data or information could be such as credit or debit card details, emails, protection passwords, the text messages or chats, and more such sensitive information. Moreover, an attacker could any possible way to control the traffic flow from client computing devices by injecting malicious software in server communications and more.
Is WPA 2/PSK Hackable?
Yes, it is possible for WPA2/PSK protocol to be hacked. This is not because WPA2 has some kind of flaw like WEP has, but then also there are chances of intrusion for APs that employs WPA2/PSK with the help of Brute force attack in which attacker basically captures the 4-way handshake (which the network authentication protocol to be precise and generates a new key named as Pairwise Transient Key or PTK) of the host, the client.
It then takes this handshake against a dictionary of words. This kind of attack is only successful if the dictionary that is used also there is no such guarantee for the same to happen or breaking the password. Also, there is no such time period that is needed for this attack and could take as less than a few minutes and as higher than a few days depending upon the computing speed.
Protect Your Wi-Fi Network
to Protect & secure the Wifi Router First Learn to Login Router While the security of your Wi-Fi router is dependent on WPA2 which is better and enhanced version of WPA in providing security and hence, even better and enhanced version than WEP for providing even more protection from the hackers, the passwords that you set are of utmost importance too.
These protocols allow you to employ passwords which could be up to 63 characters. So, make sure you employ long passwords with various characters that are not easy to be hacked or guessed by the hackers which are really easy to break for them otherwise. Also, in the case of skilled hackers, this could only be done in a few minutes and all the private data could be lost or injected with malware.
Moreover, WPA supports TKIP encryption as compared to the WPA2 protocol that supports AES which also requires more processing power to be hacked than WPA protocol.
Preventing a Krack Attack in Your Business
The infrastructure part which is formulated of computing or networking equipment such as wireless Wi-Fi routers, access points and the phones, laptops, tablets and more such and for which many manufacturers have put out firmware upgrades that help with fixing the security vulnerabilities.
By ensuring yourself to visiting the websites only with secure encryption protocols, for example, the HTTPS to avoid such attacks in your business data.
By keeping all of that Wi-Fi enabled gadgets like laptops, phones and more, that you use up to date with the recent software available.
Should you Change Your Wi-Fi Password?
It’s not necessary because no matter if your Wi-Fi network protected with a strong password, this recent vulnerability does employ your data to be risked. Now, this usually happens because the devices too are affected by it along with the Wi-Fi network.
So, if you are an Android phone user, visiting the manufacturer’s website just to know the availability of a new patch to deal with this vulnerability is the suggested option against the attack which by researchers was discovered to be catastrophic against version 2.4.
Are Hackers Already Exploiting this Vulnerability?
Well, this is not the case yet, but with the foundation of new vulnerabilities, there is no point for hackers to give a chance to take advantage of it.
So it’s important to protect your Wi-Fi devices by keeping them updated and upgraded with the security patch generation along with a few extra steps like installation of a reputable VPN on all your devices like mobiles and computers before connecting you connect them with a Wi-Fi network.
This will then help your data and information to be kept safe away from getting hacked by creating a secure tunnel in which encrypts the data or the information that is sent over a Wi-Fi connection also making the information sending even more secure.
Security Concerns with WPA2 and Countermeasures
In today’s digital world Wi-Fi technology has become a password for success for every single individual or business especially the websites with online web services. Wi-Fi technology enables a user to access any service, store, business and more using their gadgets like Smartphone’s, Tablets, and Laptops, making it just a click away.
Three Wi-Fi Protocols:
Although there are multiple Wi-Fi security standards, but the main three Wi-Fi protocols which are:
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP),
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).
These protocols encrypt your personal data along with the prevention of unwanted hackers from connecting to your wireless network connection. Here is how:
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP was authorized as a Wi-Fi security standard and was also assumed to provide the similar security level as provided by the wired networks, but there were a few known security concerns in the WEP that makes it easy to break. Regardless of all the improvements in the WEP system, high level of vulnerability was still there. And hence, WEP was officially abandoned in 2004 by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
WPA protocol was very well designed so that hardware upgrades that were required in the WEP would not be needed here. WPA employs a pre-shared key (PSK) and the temporal key integrity protocol (TKIP), which helps in preventing hackers from generating their own encryption key to match the secure network’s key and break it. But WAP protocol also turned out to be vulnerable to hacking.
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) and Its Importance
Introduced in 2004, WPA2 could be called as the improved version of WPA.
WPA2 employs the CCMP, Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol which is based on Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to encrypt the data and information and is even safer. It had been the most critical improvement.
as compared to WPA. Hence, WPA2 is suggested over WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) to prevent the intrusion. Also, WPA2 is the quickest in protocols as compared to the WEP and WPA when it comes to affecting the data encryption speed.
Despite the above, some recent papers have concluded that the WPA2 protocol is prone to intrusion and the information could be leaked, stolen or manipulated and related concerns.
