Which encryption standard is utilized by WPA2?

WPA2, or Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, utilizes the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) as its encryption protocol. AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm that has become widely adopted due to its security, speed, and efficiency in encrypted communications.

In the context of wireless security, AES provides robust protection against unauthorized access and is particularly effective in safeguarding sensitive data transmitted over wireless networks. AES operates on blocks of data and supports key sizes of 128, 192, and 256 bits, which enhances its security.

The choice of AES in WPA2 represents a significant improvement over earlier standards that used less secure encryption methods, such as RC4 (used in WPA) and older algorithms like DES and 3DES, which have been largely phased out due to vulnerabilities that have been exposed over time. By employing AES, WPA2 ensures that wireless networks have a higher level of security, making it the preferred standard for encrypting data in Wi-Fi networks today.