Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Cybersecurity Practice Test

Which of the following does WEP fail to offer compared to WPA?

1. User authentication

2. Data integrity

3. Encryption of wireless signals

4. Network access control

The correct answer is: User authentication

WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is an outdated security protocol for wireless networks that has significant vulnerabilities compared to WPA, which stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access. One of the key areas where WEP is lacking is in user authentication. WEP uses a static key for encryption, which means that the same key is used for all users. This can lead to situations where unauthorized users can gain access to the network if they discover or share the key. In contrast, WPA employs a more robust mechanism for user authentication that includes dynamic keys, which are generated for session-based use. This ensures that even if a key is compromised, it doesn't provide long-term access to the network. WPA enhances security through features like the use of the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) and the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), allowing for stronger user authentication methods and more secure key management. As a result, WPA provides more comprehensive authentication measures, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. While WEP does offer basic encryption of wireless signals, it does not ensure strong user authentication, thus exposing networks to potential threats.