The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced a new WiFi protocol and standard WPA3 that will enhance Wi-Fi network security protections and simplify Wi-Fi security configuration for users and service providers.
The Wi-Fi Alliance organization sets the standards for Wi-Fi safety and has certified 35,000 Wi-Fi products. The new standard will be the first since WPA2 was established over a decade ago to secure all modern protected Wi-Fi networks.
Serious weaknesses in WPA2 were disclosed late last year where an attacker within range of a victim could exploit these Wi-Fi weaknesses using key reinstallation attacks (KRACKs).
The new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WPA3 standard will be available in 2018 and will include several new security capabilities:
- A feature to deliver robust protections even when users choose passwords that fall short of typical complexity recommendations.
- A feature to simplify the process of configuring security for devices that have limited or no display interface.
- A feature to strengthen user privacy in open networks through individualized data encryption.
- A 192-bit security suite, aligned with the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite from the Committee on National Security Systems, will protect Wi-Fi networks with higher security requirements such as government, defense, and industrial.