What is WPA? What does WPA mean? Is it important?

When using a wireless data connection, there is a greater risk of your signal being intercepted by unauthorized persons. That's why wireless internet/Wi-Fi has gone through a whole security revolution.

What is WPA? WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. That is, WPA is a security protocol for wireless internet. In other words, WPA means that your wireless internet uses a protected access. This is a data encryption method that gives you more privacy and security on the Internet.

A WPA key is part of the WPA protocol and is the password you use to log into your Wi-Fi connection.

Back in 1999, the encryption method WEP was introduced.

This security algorithm had a lot of vulnerabilities, and today it won't take a hacker long to get past a WEP encryption.

WPA was therefore made available in 2003, which differs from WEP by changing its encryption code automatically.

What does WPA mean?

WPA is an abbreviation for Wi-Fi Protected Access. This means that your wireless internet is using a protected password.

This password is changed automatically by the WPA algorithm.

This is a data encryption method which should ensure that you get a more secure wireless network.

WPA is also referred to as IEEE 802.11i.

This is part of a larger set of networking rules that has been compiled by the IEEE.

IEEE is a large non-profit organization that has more than 423,000 members in more than 160 different countries.

They help ensure standards in IT around the world.

IEEE 802.11i-2004 is the standard that was created the year after WPA, namely WPA2.

In the big picture, it should ensure more robust data security than the original security algorithm, which was called WEP.

WPA password (How to find your key)

A WPA key is also called access code, security key and password for a wireless network.

When you get a new router for a wireless network, there is often a password printed on the router or included in the setup guide. In addition, you can also find the network name.

When you install your router, you get the opportunity to generate a new password and network name, which you can decide yourself.

If you forget your WPA key, you may be able to find it on your computer.

You also have the option of getting the original password back by resetting your router.

In some cases, you can also download an app where you can display your Wi-Fi password if you are already logged in.

How to reset your router

There can be several reasons for resetting your router. You can solve a lot of problems by pressing reset on your router so that it gets the original factory settings, the original password and the original network name.

How to do it

If you do not have the opportunity to reset your router, if you are missing a paper clip, for example, you can always log in by connecting an internet cable. You can connect an internet cable to the LAN ports on the back of the router, which can be connected to some computers, gaming consoles and TVs.

Where do I find the WPA key? Step-by-Step Guide (Windows 10)

Step-by-Step Guide: How to find your Internet password in Windows 10.

Step 1)Search for Wi-Fi Settings in the taskbar search box or right-click on the Wi-Fi logo in the taskbar and tap open network and internet settings

Step 2)Select Wi-Fi in the left column and go under network and sharing center under related settings

Step 3)Select your Wi-Fi connection under active networks

Step 4) Tap Wireless Properties

Step 5) Select Security in the top bar

Step 6) Tap Show Character under Network Security Key

Modem, Router and Internet Cables

A modem is the link between an electronic device, such as a computer, smartphone, tablet or similar, and the Internet.

For most, Modem and Router are built into the same box.

In the past, a modem and a router were separate from each other. Now the modem is almost always integrated into the router.

If you have a router, you most likely also have a modem.

The router is the box that takes care of sending information from the Internet to the device you have connected to the Internet.

Typically it will be your computer, your tablet or your mobile phone, but it can also be your Chromecast, Google Home or similar.

Internet security, wireless network and dictionary

There are many technological concepts that can be difficult to keep track of when you need to secure your network installation. Learn some of the most important terms here when doing a secure setup.

What is WPS?

WPS is an abbreviation for 'Wi-Fi Protected Setup'. It translates to something like “Wireless Protected Setup” and is a standard that aims to make connecting wireless devices both easy and secure.

If you want to use WPS, both your access point (for example your router) and client (for example your computer) must support the standard.

What is WEP?

WEP is an abbreviation for 'Wired Equivalent Privacy.' This is an encryption for wireless networks.

However, you rarely see the encryption in use anymore, as it is extremely outdated and can be easily broken by hackers. WPA is also outdated, but newer versions have been made, so most routers use a WPA2 or a WPA3 data protocol.

What is VPN and encryption?

I often use the word encryption. It simply means hiding or turning data into a secret code so that others cannot get hold of your private information so easily.

You are never completely safe from outsiders on the Internet such as hackers. Therefore, there are a lot of methods that you can use to protect your privacy. These are constantly being improved. This can be seen, for example, with the updates to WPA.

Another way to encrypt your IP address is by using a VPN.

Abbreviations and terms

You may encounter a lot of terms when you are setting up your wireless connection. I've created a mini-dictionary for some of the technical terms here:

WPA vs WPA2 vs WPA3

WPA is an abbreviation for 'Wi-Fi Protected Access'.

WPA means that it is data encryption for Wi-Fi / wireless network.

The encryption method was created as an attempt to overcome a number of the weaknesses of the encryption WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy).

WEP was an encryption method that was introduced back in 1999. As early as 2001, however, several vulnerabilities in this encryption method were discovered, and it is now considered obsolete.

WPA differs from WEP in several areas. One of these is that WPA often changes the encryption code by itself, while WEP uses the same code all the time. In addition, WPA's encryption code is longer than WEP's. It is therefore more difficult for a hacker to crack the code for WPA, which has also become obsolete now.

Since WPA was launched, new updates have been added, namely WPA2 and WPA3

If your router only supports WPA as a security protocol and no newer ones, you should have the router replaced as soon as possible, otherwise your internet is far too vulnerable.

WPA2

WPA2 resembles WPA in many ways. This is a newer security protocol, where the errors and shortcomings that were in WPA have been corrected.

WPA2 has been launched since 2004, and for many years WPA2 was considered the most secure solution when it comes to encrypting the connection in a wireless network.

How to avoid hacker attacks

During recent years, a number of weaknesses were found in WPA2, e.g. that WPA2 can be broken relatively easily via a so-called 'brute force attack'.

A brute force attack is a general method of decryption, where all possible passwords are tested one by one until the password that provides access is found.

Create a secure password

The uncertainty of WPA2 depends on the length of the password used in the home network. This is why you should always have a password that is more creative than just

'123456789', and preferably one that is longer than 16 characters.

Do you want to know more?

I have made a guide about general safety when you surf. In addition, I have written about how to create a strong password as well as some tips for seniors who did not grow up with the complex computer technology. 

WPA3

WPA3 was launched in 2018 and is therefore the newest and most secure security protocol on the Wi-Fi market at the time of writing.

One of several adjustments is that WPA3 replaces WPA2's 'Pre-Shared Key (PSK) exchange protocol' with something called 'Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)'. It sounds complex and confusing.

However, the effect is quite simple and easy to understand, namely increased security.

This is especially in relation to offline decryption attacks, where SAE is significantly more resistant than PSK, which is because WPA2 is quite susceptible to brute force attack attacks - especially if the user has chosen a password under 16 characters.