Wi-Fi Security Gets an Upgrade
Security protocols for Wi-Fi have remained the same for quite some time now. However, that’s all about to change now! According to Wi-Fi Alliance, a body which regulates the Wi-Fi standards everywhere has issued certifications to products that support the WPA3 security protocol.
What is WPA3?
WPA3 is a successor to the famous WPA2 security protocol. The protocol has been in use for as far back as 2004. The improvements are very clear-cut. For instance, hackers will now be unable to crack passwords easily.
Another great feature of this enhanced security protocol is that it limits the data which is visible to hackers However, these changes should not be expected to be made overnight. It will take a while before WPA3 functions the way it should.
The new protocol can be acquired by purchasing designated WPA3 routers. The same rule applies to all your devices since news ones will have to be purchased to get the new protocol. But the good news is that support will be made available for WPA2 devices, so they can work with WPA3 as well.
Benefits of WPA3
The biggest benefit of WPA3 perhaps is its ability to offer security even though a router maybe offline, or even when a Wi-Fi connection is out of range.
Thanks to WPA3, hackers will be locked out for good after a wrong guess. So in order for them to guess again, they will have to interact with the router, which of course would not be possible. Pretty cool, eh?
That saves you, the owner of that Wi-Fi connection from getting locked out permanently. Because you will always be in range, not the hacker.
Another advantage of WPA3 is its ‘forward secrecy’ feature. It prevents old data from being attacked on a later date. Sounds interesting, right?
If a hacker was to get hold of your password (somehow), they won’t know anything about what went down previously just what goes on in that moment of transmission. It is especially groundbreaking for businesses, as they have got a lot to lose.
When Will the Upgrade be Released?
According to Wi-Fi Alliance, it is coming out next year. When? It is hard to comment on that at this time.
Seeing how the next generation of Wi-Fi (802.11ax) will also be out soon, not to say it’s not out already, but its mass adoption will take place by late 2019. The Wi-Fi Alliance says that it will become a mandatory requirement for all devices to be WPA3 compliant.
Wait, there’s more!
Wi-Fi Alliance has also announced an Easy Connect feature. It is intended for easy connectivity between your smart home gadgets and the router. By scanning a QR code with your phone, you will be able to send Wi-Fi credentials to a new device you wish to connect to.
Again, it is all in the future. How it will actually pan out, is yet to be seen.
WPA3 is the future for now. Companies like Qualcomm are supporting the move, and have already started developing chips for smartphones which will be 802.11ax and WPA3 compliant.
What can you do to protect yourself
Meanwhile, in order to protect yourself against hackers, get a VPN service to remain anonymous as it allows for masking of your IP address. Also, one of the key features of a VPN is that it encrypts your Wi-Fi network (specifically on a public Wi-Fi) rendering it secure and impervious to data snoopers lest they tap into your sensitive information.
