Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security protocol introduced in 1997 as part of the original IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless networks. Its primary goal was to provide a level of data confidentiality and privacy for wireless local area networks (WLANs) comparable to that of traditional wired networks.
How WEP Works
• Encryption: WEP encrypts data transmitted between wireless devices and access points using the RC4 stream cipher. It uses either a 64-bit or 128-bit static key (sometimes extended to 256 bits in later versions), which is shared among all devices on the network.
• Key Structure: The key consists of hexadecimal digits—10 for 64-bit (WEP-40) and 26 for 128-bit (WEP-104).
• Authentication: WEP supports two authentication methods:
• Open System Authentication: No real authentication; any client can connect if they know the key.
• Shared Key Authentication: Uses a challenge–response handshake, but ironically, this method is even less secure due to vulnerabilities in the protocol.
• Data Integrity: WEP uses the CRC-32 checksum to verify that data has not been altered during transmission.
Purpose and Historical Context
WEP was developed to address the inherent vulnerability of wireless data transmission, which is more susceptible to interception than wired transmission. By encrypting wireless traffic, WEP aimed to prevent unauthorized users from eavesdropping on network communications.
Limitations and Security Flaws
Despite its initial promise, WEP quickly became known for significant security weaknesses:
• Static Key Usage: All devices use the same static key, making it easier for attackers to crack the encryption.
• Short Key Lengths: The relatively short key sizes (64 or 128 bits) are vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
• Easily Cracked: Tools and techniques to break WEP encryption became widely available, allowing attackers to compromise WEP-protected networks in minutes.
• Deprecated: Due to these vulnerabilities, WEP was officially deprecated and replaced by more secure protocols—WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and later WPA2.
Current Status
WEP is now considered obsolete and insecure. Security experts and organizations strongly advise against using WEP for protecting wireless networks, recommending WPA2 or WPA3 instead