What encryption method is used by WPA2?

WPA2, or Wi-Fi Protected Access II, employs AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) for encryption, specifically using a key length of 128 bits in the most common implementations, although AES can technically support key lengths of 128, 192, and 256 bits. The use of AES in WPA2 provides strong security compared to older protocols.

AES is considered a modern encryption standard that is efficient and highly secure, making it suitable for protecting wireless communications from unauthorized access and eavesdropping. It replaces the less secure encryption methods used in previous standards, such as RC4, which was used in the original WPA. The adoption of AES in WPA2 ensures that the data transmitted over wireless networks is encrypted in a way that is resilient against a variety of attacks.

By using AES, WPA2 benefits from robust security features like strong key management and support for various encryption modalities, which together contribute to the overall integrity and confidentiality of wireless communication.