802.11i - New Generation Of Wireless Security

802.11i is an appendix to the 802.11 standard that specifies a new generation of a wireless security. IEEE 802.11 is standard on which wireless LAN networks are based. This original standard has used WEP for security. WEP is relatively easy to crack.
Here you could find out how WEP is cracked in less then a minute.

The IEEE 802.11 group was aware of this security problem and on June 2004 they approved an amendment in 802.11 – 11i. They add much stronger encryption, authentication, and key management tactics that guarantee data and system security.

More about WPA and WPA2 you could find here.

If you want to use WPA2, you need a firmware upgrade (on an access point or wireless router) and driver update (on client adapter). So, as you can see, both client and wireless router (or access point) need to support WPA2. This updates you can find on vendors' web sites. Maybe you will need to upgrade OS too.

Other 802.11 standards are defined frequency, bandwidth and modulation used for the broadcast of the wireless signal. Learn more about the different kinds of wireless signals check on the:
- Description of 802.11a standard that works on 5 GHz
- Description of 802.11b standard that works on 2.4 GHz
- Description of 802.11g standard that works on 2.4 GHz.
- Description of 802.11n

I am recommending you to read the following pages about the wireless security:
- Wireless Internet Security
- Description of wireless authentication
- WEP vs WPA - What is better solution
- How can you protect from Hacking WPA
- WLAN traps - wireless security threat



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