The Wi-Fi Alliance, which represents the worldwide network of companies that bring us Wi-Fi, has announced that WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access3) is ready to roll out in 2018.
The alliance is a bit cryptic on details—perhaps we have to enter a Wi-Fi password to get more information. So here is what we know for now.
Four new features of WAP3 Wi-Fi
- Safer use of public Wi-Fi: WAP3 will "strengthen user privacy in open networks through individualized data encryption"
- WAP3 will automatically increase protection "even when users choose passwords that fall short of typical complexity recommendations"
- Interface more easily with your phone and the IoT to "simplify the process of configuring security for devices that have limited or no display interface"
- Government, defense, and industrial users will like this part of WAP3: "192-bit security suite, aligned with the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite from the Committee on National Security Systems, will further protect Wi-Fi networks with higher security requirements..."
The alliance says WAP2 Wi-FI Certified devices are still secure, with billions of them in use everyday around the world. But later this year, look for the WAP3 devices beginning to appear on the market.