New Security Enhancements for the WLAN

Since IEE 802.11b was approved in 1999 and the Wi-Fi Alliance TM was formed in 2000; there has been a constant evolution to always advance security of the WLAN. New enhancements will come to market in 2018 as a part of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WPA3 TM. Enhancements will include the following: Hard protections will be provided when passwords are not complex and this will ensure the ease of configuring security for a limited display interface. User privacy will be enhanced through individualized data encryption. This includes (OWE) Opportunistic Wireless Encryption. OWE provides encryption without authentication. (SAE) Simultaneous Authentication of Equals replaces WPA-PSK to mitigate attacks against Pre-Shared Keys. (DPP), Device Provisioning Protocol replaces WPS to mitigate security flaws and provides a more user-friendly way to set up devices without displays or keyboards. Security will be additionally enhanced through 192-bit encryption that is in line with the (CNSA) Commercial National Security Algorithm from the Committee on National Security Systems.