A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a type of local area network that uses wireless communication to connect devices, such as computers and smartphones, within a specific area. Unlike a wired network, which requires physical cables to establish connections, WLANs facilitate connections through radio frequency (RF) signals, providing a more flexible networking option.
There are two main components in a WLAN:
There are several WLAN standards, defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 series. Some of the most common standards include:
As WLANs use wireless signals to transmit data, they can be susceptible to various security threats. Some essential security measures include:
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP): An early security protocol that uses encryption to protect wireless communications. Due to several security flaws, it has been replaced by more secure protocols.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA): WPA is an enhanced security protocol that addressed the vulnerabilities of WEP. It uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) for encryption and provides better authentication and encryption methods.
Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2): WPA2 is an advanced security protocol that uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption and replaces TKIP from WPA. This protocol provides a high level of security and is currently the recommended standard for securing WLANs.
Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3): WPA3 is the latest security standard with enhanced encryption and authentication features. It addresses the vulnerabilities in WPA2 and provides even stronger security for WLANs.
To maintain a secure WLAN, it’s essential to use the appropriate security standard, change default settings, and regularly update firmware to address any security vulnerabilities.