What is the primary purpose of WEP?

The primary purpose of WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is to ensure that only authorized parties can view transmitted wireless information. This security protocol was designed to provide a level of security for wireless networks that would be comparable to that found in wired networks. By using encryption techniques, WEP aimed to protect wireless data transmission from unauthorized access and eavesdropping.

WEP was the first security protocol introduced for wireless networks and was intended to address the vulnerabilities that arise when data is transmitted over the airwaves, making it accessible to anyone within range of the wireless signal. Despite its intent, WEP has significant security flaws that have been exploited, which led to the development of more secure protocols like WPA and WPA2. However, understanding WEP's purpose is crucial for recognizing the evolution of wireless network security measures.