Chapter-8 LEC-6. | How WPA works. | #rumble #ethicalhacking

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) is a security protocol used to protect wireless networks from unauthorized access. It is an improvement over the earlier WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) protocol, which was found to have significant vulnerabilities.

WPA works by encrypting wireless network traffic using a dynamically generated key that changes frequently. The key is negotiated between the access point and the client device using a process called the 4-way handshake. During this handshake, the access point sends a random number to the client, which the client uses to create an encryption key. The client then sends this key back to the access point, and the access point verifies the key before allowing the client to connect to the network.

In addition to encryption, WPA also uses a message integrity check to ensure that the data transmitted over the network has not been tampered with. This is done using a hashing algorithm that generates a unique code for each message. The access point and client device both calculate this code for each message, and if the codes match, the message is considered to be authentic.

WPA also supports different authentication methods, including PSK (Pre-Shared Key) and EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol). PSK authentication uses a shared passphrase that is known to both the client and the access point, while EAP authentication requires a separate authentication server to verify the identity of the client.

Overall, WPA provides a robust and secure method for protecting wireless networks from unauthorized access, and is widely used in both home and business settings.

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