What does WPA2 use for encryption?

WPA2 uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) for encryption, which is a widely recognized symmetric encryption algorithm. Specifically, WPA2 typically employs AES-CCMP (Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol) for encrypting data. While AES can be configured to use different key lengths, including 128-bit and 256-bit, WPA2 predominantly utilizes AES-128 in its standard implementation.

The correct answer highlights the strong security features provided by using AES encryption, which includes both confidentiality and integrity of the data being transmitted over wireless networks. AES is favored for its robustness against various forms of cryptographic attacks, making it a suitable choice for securing network communications.

Additionally, the other encryption options mentioned are either outdated or not applicable in the context of WPA2. BLOWFISH, for instance, is another encryption algorithm but is not used in WPA2. HMAC is a hashing algorithm used for message integrity, not for encryption, and although it is part of the WPA2 protocol for ensuring data integrity and authenticity, it does not serve as the encryption method itself.