OCU C)HT C Discussion Lesson 12
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Wi-Fi Standards are like versions of wireless internet. The most common ones are Wi-Fi 4 which is 802.11n, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Each new versions provides faster internet, better range and compatible with many other devices. WIFI 6E is technically the newest and uses cleaner 6GHz band for less interference. To keep Wi-Fi safe, encryption is used. The oldest type is WEP, but its technically weak compared to others and considered not safe to use. Then came out WPA, in which now it is widely known and used for being much stronger. WPA3 is the newest and even mor secure as well. Considering the best type of encryption today, it is AES, which is much stronger and protects your data as well. For a more secure network, always use WPA2 or WPA3 with AES encryption. This helps keep your Wi-Fi safe from hackers and unwanted access from other users in the future.
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Hi Carlos,
Thank you for your post. You did a great job explaining Wi-Fi and how to keep it secure. Wi-Fi versions like Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) are newer upgrades that make internet faster, work better over longer distances, and connect more easily to different devices. Wi-Fi 6E is the latest version and uses a cleaner 6GHz signal, which helps avoid interference from other networks. For security, older methods like WEP aren’t safe anymore. Newer ones like WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 are much stronger. The best way to protect your Wi-Fi is by using WPA2 or WPA3 with AES encryption, which helps keep hackers out and your data safe.
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Welcome to the last week of the course. I hope you have learned a lot. I really like the Mile2 courses because they give you a lot of good applicable information for Cybersecurity.
This last week, you will need to read chapters 12 and 13. Watch the videos, complete the devotion and discussions, and do the chapter exams, final project, and final exam. There is a lot to do, but you can do this. ~Dr. Anthony
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
—John 8:36
The mark of a true Christian is found in his personal relationship to the Person of Jesus Christ. Christianity is Christ. Christ is Christianity. I speak reverently when I say that Jesus is more than His ideas. All that He said was true, but without Him even the truth would have been powerless. Men know the power of truth, and truth is that which sets men free. Jesus said, “I am the truth.” -
The first Wi-Fi standards included 802.11a and 802.11b, but eventually 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac came out as well. 802.11ax is the most recent standard that has been developed, however (GeeksforGeeks, 2021). The standard that should be used depends on what band the standard will be used on and what speed will be needed. 2.4GHz bands can usually reach farther than 5GHz bands, but they are a bit slower (GeeksforGeeks, 2021). However, it is helpful that some of the standards can operate on both bands (GeeksforGeeks, 2021).
There are also a few Wi-Fi encryption standards. First, there is Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), which was the original standard and used the RC4 encryption cipher. However, this standard had many problems, so Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) was created and used the 802.11i standard. Finally, Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) was the version based on the final 802.11i standard, and it uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher.
References
GeeksforGeeks. (2021, March 17). Wi-Fi Standards Explained. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-networks/wi-fi-standards-explained/-
Great summary Isabelle! You clearly explained how Wi-Fi standards evolved and highlighted the importance of encryption types. It’s helpful to know the differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2, especially for choosing secure networks. Including how 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands differ was also a nice touch as well. Again, great explanation.
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Great summary Isabelle! You clearly explained how Wi-Fi standards evolved and highlighted the importance of encryption types. It’s helpful to know the differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2, especially for choosing secure networks. Including how 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands differ was also a nice touch as well. Again, great explanation.
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Wi-Fi has gotten better over the years. Older Wi-Fi versions were slower and used the 2.4 GHz band, while newer ones are faster and use the 5 GHz or 6 GHz bands. The security of Wi-Fi has also improved, moving from WEP to WPA, WPA2, and now WPA3, which is the most secure. Picking the right Wi-Fi version and security type will help to make sure your internet is fast and safe.
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Hi Misty,
I like how you explained the Wi-Fi upgrades. Moving from 2.4 GHz to 5 and 6 GHz really improves speed and reduces interference. The security improvements from WEP to WPA3 make a big difference too since older versions were easier to hack. Picking the right Wi-Fi and security keeps your connection fast and safe.
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Wi-Fi has improved a lot over the years, with each new standard offering faster speeds and better coverage. The early 802.11b was pretty slow, but then 802.11g made things more reliable and faster. After that, 802.11n brought significant improvements in range and stability. Then 802.11ac came around with gigabit speeds on the 5 GHz band, which was great for streaming and gaming. The latest standard, 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6, focuses on supporting more devices at once without slowing down. Besides speed, encryption is really important to keep data safe. WEP was the first encryption method but is now outdated and insecure. WPA improved security, and WPA2 became the standard for a long time with stronger encryption. Now, WPA3 offers even better protection, especially against password guessing attacks. As the book points out, using old Wi-Fi standards or weak encryption can leave networks vulnerable and slow.
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Hi Caleb!
Great summary of the different Wi-FI standards and how they have evolved over the years. I am old enough to remember a time before the internet was readily available and was well into adulthood before I had internet in my home. The first internet I had in my home was dial-up. I have always been fascinated with technology and the speed at which it evolves. Great post! -
Hi Caleb,
Thanks for the summary—it really highlights the key points in Wi-Fi’s development and security. Wi-Fi has improved a lot since the early days of 802.11b, which was slow and unreliable. Each new version—802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and now 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)—has brought big improvements in speed, range, and the ability to handle more devices at once, which is great for busy homes or offices. On the security side, you’re right that encryption is very important. WEP is no longer safe, while WPA and WPA2 have provided stronger protection for many years. WPA3 now offers the best security, especially against common threats like password cracking. As you mentioned using outdated Wi-Fi standards or weak encryption can slow down your network and make it vulnerable to attacks, so it’s important to keep everything updated.
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Wi-Fi technology, as with any technology, seems to be ever-evolving. Each iteration of Wi-Fi standard offers improvement in speed, frequency, reliability, or all of the above. Early standards, such as 802.11a and b, laid important groundwork, but modern versions, such as 802.11ac and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), deliver higher speeds and enhanced performance in crowded environments. Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 be) pushes the boundaries even further with near instant response times and the ability to operate across multiple frequencies.
Encryption is another important consideration when it comes to securing wireless networks. WEP and WPA are outdated and, therefore, more vulnerable to attacks, while WPA2 with AES is more secure, causing it to be more widely used. WPA3 is the latest protocol and offers more protection against brute-force attacks, as well as improved privacy. Choosing the right Wi-Fi version and encryption makes a big difference in both speed and security.-
Great post Teisha.
It is interesting to see how Wi-Fi 8 will be now that we have Wi-Fi 7 and 6GHz frequency bands available. Also with the introduction of WPA 3 it is said to encrypt every device on the network with an individual encryption key. It is truly fascinating how far technology has come just since Y2K.
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As we move further into 2025 Wi-Fi standards are progressing quicker. Wi-Fi was originally introduced in 1999 as 802.11b which would be considered Wi-Fi 1 now with a 2.4GHz bandwidth and 11Mbps or Megabits per second. Since that time we have been introduced to 802.11 a, g, n, b, ac, ax, axe, and now be in Wi-Fi 7. They are basically the standards or rules set forth to govern wireless communication over networks put together by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE. They continue to revise these standards since, like most electronics, advancements in speed, range, device capacity, frequency bands, and security continue to evolve. I would say most people are commonly operating on Wi-Fi 5 standards right now, but Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and Wi-Fi 7 are rapidly pushing in to the market and as people upgrade, they will eventually take over. As for encryption standards, wireless networks began with WEP, which quickly identified as highly vulnerable to cracking the encryption keys, from there WPA, then WPA2, which has been the standard for some time, but is now giving way to WPA3.
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