Let's get cracking...

As you may have already noticed, there are many new technologies coming out such as Ipads, macs, laptops and other mobile devices. What's one thing that they all have in common? They make use of WiFi. This allows the devices to connect to Internet with the use of certain radio waves and frequencies. However, we would need to secure ourselves with some kind of password so that other's can't just hop onto our network. And with that, we have encryption. Which is the process of encoding messages (or information) so that hackers or other unwanted people can't read it, but those with the "key" can unlock the messages and read it.

Source: http://www.data-processing.hk/glossaries/encryption/

In general there are two types of encryption for Wifi, WEP and WPA. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy and for a long time was considered "a good method for encrypting wireless connections. However was proved to have many flaws mainly involving the short key size,which were easy to crack" (Gross). And it was until stronger encryption came about such as the 128-bit and 256-bit encryption. 128-bit means that there are 2¹²⁸ different keys. So, one would have to go through a lot of keys in order to decrypt the message.  

WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. And is being more widely used as it provides more security than that of WEP. Because it makes use of TKIP or Temporal Key Integrity Protocol. "TKIP is 128-bit, but instead of the key  being static it generates a new key for every packet of information that is sent, meaning  it is a lot more secure" (Gross). Then there is also WPA2, which instead of TKIP, uses CCMP or CipherBlock Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol.

What I use is WPA2-Personnel or referred to as WPA2-PSK. The PSK stands for "Pre-Shared Key, and is designed for home users and small offices where a server is not required for authenticating messages. It works by having each wireless devices such as laptop or smart phone authenticating directly with the wireless access point using the same key" (Gross). And because WPA2 makes use of AES, it gives home users more security.

Despite all of this encryption, there are still ways to crack the code. A popular method is with the use of a free program called Aircrack.

Works Cited

Brain, Marshall, and Tracey V. Wilson. "How WiFi Works." HowStuffWorks.N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

"Ckwop.me.uk :: What does 128-bit  Encryption Really Mean?" Ckwop.me.uk :: What does 128-bit Encryption Really Mean? N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Gross, Melanie. "Types of WiFi Encryption You Can Use." Ghacks Technology News RSS.N.p., 22 Sept. 2011. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Rouse, Margaret. "CCMP (Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol)." SearchMobileComputing.N.p., June 2008. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.

Tyson, Jeff. "How Encryption Works." HowStuffWorks. N.p., .n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.