WPA3
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Networking
| Stands for | Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
WPA3 stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access 3, a networking abbreviation.
Announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2018, WPA3 replaces the WPA2 pre-shared key handshake with SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals), which resists offline password guessing and provides forward secrecy. WPA3-Enterprise adds an optional 192-bit security mode for sensitive networks.
Example: Our new access points support WPA3, but older laptops only connect in transition mode.
Usage notes
WPA3 support is mandatory for Wi-Fi 6 certification, and the 6 GHz band used by Wi-Fi 6E permits only WPA3. Transition mode lets WPA2 and WPA3 clients share one network at the cost of some protection. The Dragonblood flaws disclosed in 2019 affected early SAE implementations and were fixed in updates.
Related abbreviations
More networking abbreviations
- AP – Access point (wireless)
- ARP – Address Resolution Protocol
- ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
- ASN – Autonomous system number
- ATM – Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- BGP – Border Gateway Protocol
- CGNAT – Carrier-grade NAT
- CIDR – Classless Inter-Domain Routing
- CIFS – Common Internet File System
- CNAME – Canonical name (record)
- CRC – Cyclic redundancy check
- CSMA/CD – Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection