Understanding Non-Physical Amendments in IEEE 802.11 Standards

In this lecture, we will explore the non-physical amendments of the IEEE 802.11 standards, which are crucial for understanding wireless networking and important for your exam preparation. Knowledge of these standards is also essential for anyone working in the wireless industry. Let’s dive into the key non-physical amendments, starting with 802.11i-2004.

802.11i-2004: Enhancing Wireless Security

The 802.11i-2004 amendment was developed to enhance the security protocols initially implemented in the 802.11 standard established in 1997. The original protocol, known as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), was designed to provide a level of security comparable to wired networks. However, it quickly became apparent that WEP had significant vulnerabilities; research showed that WEP keys could be cracked within seconds using readily available hacking tools.

To address these security flaws, 802.11i introduced two new protocols: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2. These protocols provided stronger encryption and improved security mechanisms, making wireless LANs more secure against unauthorized access.

For example, in a MikroTik device, when creating a security profile, you have options to select WPA and WPA2 Pre-Shared Key (PSK). By configuring these settings, a user must provide the correct pre-shared key to connect to the wireless network, significantly enhancing security compared to WEP.