Close
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Cybersecurity
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Mobile
  • Networking
  • Storage
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile

    Wi-Fi Security Standard Nears Approval

    By
    Mark Hachman
    -
    June 22, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Industry sources said the IEEE 802.11i specification could be ratified this Thursday, adding a needed layer of security to the Wi-Fi standard.

      Sources said the draft specification is on the agenda to be ratified this week as part of an IEEE-SA standards committee meeting in Piscataway, N.J. One source said that although a vote on the proposed specification is not guaranteed, a decision to end the three-year standards process is likely.

      The 802.11i standard would add a needed layer of security to Wi-Fi, which has become widespread both in the consumer and corporate spaces. Early attempts at security, such as WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), provided some basic security but were derided as too easy to crack.

      A superior form of encryption, dubbed WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), has basically replaced WEP, although it still doesnt meet the stringent standards needed for the transmission of sensitive government data.

      802.11is encryption protocols are based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

      The IEEE began decided in May 2001 to split the quality-of-service and security enhancements to the IEEE 802.11 MAC standard into specific working groups. Since then, the members have gone through a lengthy process of hammering out a spec, submitting comments which are then considered by the working group at large.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifClick here to read about how Symbol and other companies are moving forward on WLAN security solutions.

      IEEE members met most recently in Southern California, according to Paul Lambert of AirGo Networks, to discuss comments on draft specification 10.0. But only two were received, and both were rejected. The task force must decide this week whether the remaining negative comments on the draft specification are worthy of consideration and, if so, whether they necessitate an additional revision.

      If the specification is approved, most manufacturers will be able to push out firmware upgrades in a matter of weeks, if not sooner, via firmware upgrades. Actual 802.11i hardware-based support will probably be baked into the next revision of chips, the sources said.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Mobile & Wireless Center at http://wireless.eweek.com for the latest news, reviews and analysis.

      /zimages/4/77042.gif

      Be sure to add our eWEEK.com mobile and wireless news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page

      Editors Note: This article has been updated with information from AirGos Paul Lambert, who reported that the IEEE 802.11i working group last met in Southern California. The encryption standard which the 802.11i standard is based upon has also been clarified.

      Avatar
      Mark Hachman

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more
      eWeek


      Contact Us | About | Sitemap

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      Terms of Service | Privacy Notice | Advertise | California - Do Not Sell My Information

      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×