What type of encryption is currently used to secure wpa2?

The encryption protocol currently used to secure WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) is AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), operating with the CCMP (Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol) for data confidentiality and integrity.

CCMP replaced WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol), which were used in the original WPA, due to their vulnerabilities. AES is a more secure and robust algorithm that provides stronger security for wireless networks. It uses a block cipher method of encryption with key sizes of 128, 192, or 256 bits, with the 128-bit key being the most commonly implemented in WPA2 configurations for wireless security.

Extra: AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm, meaning the same key is used for both encryption and decryption of data. It was selected as the encryption standard by the U.S. government in 2001 to protect classified information, showcasing its high level of security.

When you connect to a WPA2-secured network, a "handshake" occurs between your device and the router, which involves the creation and exchange of a new encryption key for that session. This ensures that each session has a unique key, enhancing security by making it extremely difficult for attackers to decrypt the data being transmitted over the network.

Encryption is a vital concept in cybersecurity as it allows the protection of data that is sent over potentially insecure networks, like Wi-Fi. Without strong encryption protocols like AES in WPA2, transmitted data could be intercepted and read by unauthorized individuals, leading to privacy and security breaches. It is essential for students to understand the importance of strong encryption protocols, not just for Wi-Fi networks, but in digital communications in general.