Wi-Fi Protected Access Security Sees Strong Adoption - Wi-Fi Alliance Takes Strong Position by Requiring WPA Security for Product Certification
Mountain View, CA (ots)
The Wi-Fi Alliance announced today that over 175 products from over 40 of the world's leading technology manufacturers have received Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security certification since testing began in April of 2003. WPA is the current state-of-the-art wireless LAN security technology. The Wi-Fi Alliance has taken the proactive move of requiring WPA for all Wi-Fi® certifications awarded since September 2003. A useful online resource for Wi-Fi Protected Access security can be found at www.wi-fi.org/wpa.
Wi-Fi Protected Access is the security replacement for WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). Since WEP can be compromised, it should not be considered a secure mechanism to protect Wi-Fi wireless LAN traffic. The Wi-Fi Alliance recommends that WPA be enabled in wireless LAN applications where data security is a concern. WPA has proven to be a very secure and easily implemented security solution. WEP should only be used when a more secure wireless LAN security solution is not available.
"Wi-Fi Protected Access meets the wireless LAN security needs of both enterprises and individuals," said Wi-Fi Alliance Managing Director, Frank Hanzlik. "This is a very robust, cross vendor interoperable security technology that is both easier to install than its flawed predecessor WEP and far more secure. The Wi-Fi Alliance recommends that WEP be dropped in favor of WPA for applications as soon as feasible."
"Wi-Fi Protected Access establishes a strong foundation for secure wireless LAN connections. There are also plans to add additional security capabilities to WPA with the next version of WPA called WPA2. Products certified for WPA2 are anticipated to be available in the middle of 2004. However, users need not wait for WPA2. WPA2 is an enhancement, but most business and personal security needs are met by WPA today," Hanzlik added.
Industry analysts have also found that Wi-Fi Protected Access and Wi-Fi certification have had a positive impact on the security of Wi-Fi technology. Synergy Research has observed that, "Until recently, depressed IT spending had a significant negative impact on the market for enterprise wireless products. Furthermore, security has also been a major concern with Enterprise IT professionals, which has also slowed adoption. However, now that the Wi-Fi Protected Access security solution is available, Synergy has seen a marked increase in Enterprise WLAN sales."
The first WPA certifications were announced in April of 2003, and the certification saw very rapid adoption by wireless LAN vendors prior to it becoming a mandatory feature in September 2003. The Wi-Fi Alliance made Wi-Fi Protected Access security a requirement for Wi-Fi certification due to the importance of security to the end users. It is also important to recognize that Wi-Fi certification is the only way to be sure that wireless LAN products from different vendors and even the same vendor will work together.
The Wi-Fi Alliance currently performs four independent interoperability certifications including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Wi-Fi Protected Access in addition to a combination of all of these technologies. Wi-Fi Protected Access has been required for all certification combinations since September of 2003. A searchable database of Wi-Fi Alliance certifications can be found at www.wi-fi.org/certified_products.
Products awarded the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED logo have undergone rigorous independent testing at one of four labs in Tokyo, Japan; San Jose, California; Winnersh, UK; or Taipei, Taiwan. The Wi-Fi interoperability certification program has become the international standard for providing high-quality interoperability testing for IEEE 802.11-based products.
Companies obtaining Wi-Fi Protected Access product certification include:
3Com 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Access Point Model# 3CRWE454G72 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway Model# 3CRWE554G72 3Com Dual-Band Wireless LAN PC Card Model# 3CRPAG175
Accton Wireless 802.11g MiniPCI Module Model# WN4402A 802.11g 54Mbs Wireless PCI Card Model# WN4201B
Agere Systems Agere 802.11b Wireless LAN PCMCIA Card Type II Model# WL1257
Airespace, Inc. Airespacce 4xxx Switch w/Airespace 12xx AP's
Apple Computer, Inc. Apple Access Point Model# AirPort Extreme AP Apple Airport Extreme Base Station
AT&T AT&T Plug&Share 54Mbps Wireless Notebook Adapter Model# 6700G AT&T Plug&Share 54 Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter Model# 6500G
Atheros Communications Inc. Atheros AR5001X + Universal 802.11a/b/g Wireless Network Adapter
Broadcom Corporation Broadcom 54g(tm) AP Reference Design - BCM94306-GAP Broadcom 802.11g CardBus Reference Design - BCM94306CB
Buffalo, Inc. AirStation Access Point Model# WBR2-G54 AirStation Access Point Model# WHR2-G54 AirStation Access Point Model#WHR-G54V Melco AirStation G54 Broadband Base Station Model# WBR-G54 Melco AirStation 54Mbps Wireless Notebook Adapter-g Model# WLI-CB-G54(A) Melco AirStation 54Mbps Wireless Notebook Adapter-g Model# WLI-CB-G54 Melco AirStation G54 Wireless PCI Card with External Antennae Model# WLI-PCI-G54
Cisco Systems Cisco Access Point AIR-AP1230B Cisco Access Point Model# AIR-AP1120B Cisco Aironet 2.4/5 GHz 54Mbps Wireless PCI Adapter Air-P121a/g
Cisco-Linksys, LLC Linksys Wireless-G Access Point Model# WAP54G Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router Model# WRT54G Linksys WRT54G v2 Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A+G Notebook Adapter Model# WPC55AG Linksys Wireless Network PC Card Model# WPC11 ver. 3.0 Linksys Wireless-B Notebook Adapter Model# WPC11 V4 Linksys Wireless-B PCI Adapter Model# WMP11 V4 Linksys Wireless-G Notebook Adapter Model# WPC54G Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A+G PCI Adapter Model# WMP55AG Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter Model# WMP54G Linksys WirelessG USB Network Adapter Model# WUSB54G
Corega K.K. Corega 802.11g PC Card Model# CG-WLCB54GT
Dell Dell TrueMobile Wireless Broadband Router Model #2300 TrueMobile 802.11b/g Enterprise Access Point Model# 1170 Dell TrueMobile 1150 Series PC Card Dell TrueMobile 1150 Series Mini-PCI Card Dell TrueMobile 1300 MiniPCI Module Dell TrueMobile 1400 MiniPCI Module Dell TrueMobile USB2.0 Adapter Model# 1300
Enfora WP802b
Envara WiND512 USB 2.0 Hardware Reference Design
Fujitsu Corporation Access Point Module# CP182728-01 FMV-BIBLO LOOX T50G/W FMV-BIBLO LOOX T55G FMV-BIBLO MG70G FMV-BIBLO MG70G/ST FMV-BIBLO MG70GN FMV-BIBLO MG75G Fujitsu MiniPCI Module Model# MBH7WL01-M Fujitsu MiniPCI Module Model# WLL3050-D50-M LifeBook C2230 LifeBook S2020 LifeBook S6120 LifeBook S6120D LifeBook S6130D MiniPCI Module/ WM3B2200BG-FJ
Gateway Gateway MiniPCI Card (Part 6002494) - Broadcom BCM94306MP
GlobespanVirata Prism Duette CardBus Model#39000C PRISM Duette PCMCIA Adapter Model# ISL39000C PRISM GTU USB2.0 Reference Design Model# PRISMGTUAT-OEMKIT PRISM WorldRadio MiniPCI Module Model# ISL39200M
Hewlett-Packard HP 802.11b Spirit Radio Module Model# 5092-0115 HP Broadcom 54g Max Performance 802.11g MiniPCI Adapter Model# BCM94306MPSGC0 HP MiniPCI Module Model# 54g W450 HP WLAN 802.11a/b/g PCI CARD Model#WL500 HP DeskJet 5850 PN #C8975A HP DeskJet 5850, PN# C8975B HP DeskJet 5850, PN# C8975C HP JetDirect 280m (J6044A) HP JetDirect 380x (J6061A) HP JetDirect 680n (J6058A) HP PSC 2500 Photosmart All-in-One, PN# Q3093A HP PSC 2510 Photosmart All-in-One, PN# Q3094A HP PSC 2510Xi Photosmart All-in-One, PN# Q3095A HP PSC 2550 Photosmart All-in-One, PN# Q3092A
I-O DATA Device, Inc. WN-AG/CB2 WN-B11/R WN-G54/CB2
IBM IBM 11a/b/g Wireless CardBus Adapter
Inprocomm, Inc. INPROCOMM IPN2120 Wireless LAN Card Inprocomm Wireless LAN Cardbus Card Model#IPN2220 Inprocomm LAN MiniPCI Card Model# IPN2120
Intel Corporation Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWFUJ Intel® PRO/Wireless LAN 2100A MiniPCI Adapter Intel® PRO/Wireless LAN 2200 3B Mini PCI Adapter Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A1 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A1TOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A2 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A2TOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A3 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A3TOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A4 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2100A4TOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3A2200BGMWDEL Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3A2200BGRWDEL Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMW Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWHP Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWIBM Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWSY Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWTOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGMWWB Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRW Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWFUJ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWHP Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWIBM Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWSY Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWSYJ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWTOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter WM3B2200BGRWWB Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3A Mini-PCI Adapter WM3A2100NADELL Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3A Mini-PCI Adapter WM3A2100WWDELL, ID# 105899 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NA Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NA1 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NA2 Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NAFJ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NASONY Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100NAWB Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100RWHPQ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100RWHPQ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100RWTOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WW Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWFJ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWHPQ Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWIBM Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWSONY Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWTOS Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 LAN 3B Mini-PCI Adapter WM3B2100WWWB Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100A LAN 3B MiniPCI Adapter
Intermec Technologies Corporation Intermec 802.11b Wireless Compact Flash Adapter - 730 .11g miniPCI Intersil/GlobeSpanVirata radio CK30 Handheld Computer Model #CK30 CV60 Vehicle Mounted Terminal EasyCoderPF, PM, PX-series printer
Legra Legra Switch
Marvell Semiconductor Inc. Marvell AP-32 802.11g Wireless Home Gateway Model# AP-32 Marvell 802.11g Card Bus Client Adapter Model# CB-32
MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD. Wireless .11g USB Adapter Model# MS-6826
Microsoft Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter MN-710
Motorola Motorola 802.11b/g Wireless Access Point Model# WA840G Motorola Wireless Broadband Router Model# WR850G Motorola 802.11b PCI Adapter Model# WPC1810G Motorola Wireless Notebook Adapter Model# WN825G
Nomadix AG-2000w
Option Globetrotter Combo
Proxim Corporation Proxim ORiNOCO AP-2000 Access Point Proxim ORiNOCO AP-600b/g
Ralink Technology Corp. Ralink 802.11b Wireless LAN PC Card Model# RT2400-CB RT2500 802.11g wireless LAN card
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. Realtek RTL8180 11M WLAN NIC Adapter-1 / RTL8180-NIC1 Realtek RTL8180 11M WLAN NIC Adapter-2 / RTL8180-NIC2
Sharp Labs of America Sharp Access Point Model# HG-01S SHARP 802.11g WLAN mini PCI / CE-WL11 Sharp 802.11g WLAN miniPCI module CE-WL09
Sony Corporation Sony PCWA-A820 Wireless LAN Access Point Sony Wireless LAN PC Card Model# PCWA-C300S Sony MiniPCI Module PCG Series Model# 1761786
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, AB GC79 Cardbus PC Card Model# FAE-1021011-BV
Symbol Technologies PPT8800 with PPC2003 Symbol Wireless Networker CompactFlash Wireless LAN Adapter Model LA-4137
Texas Instruments Texas Instruments Access Point Model# TNETWA-100-APEVM TNETWA-100-APEVM Texas Instruments Cardbus Model# TNETW1100-CBEVM TNETW1100-CBEVM - Cardbus
TOKO, Inc. Wireless LAN Card Model# TMW1059
Toshiba Toshiba 802.11 a/b Combo MiniPCI WLAN Module Model# PA3234U-1MPC Toshiba 802.11a/b/g Combo MiniPCI WLAN MiniPCI Module Model# PA3297U-1MPC Toshiba 802.11b/g Combo Mini-PCI W-LAN Model# PA3299U-1MPC Toshiba MiniPCI Module Model# PA3233U-1MPC Toshiba MiniPCI Module Model# PA3272U-1MPC
Victor Company of Japan, Limited Victor 802.11b MiniPCI Module Model# WM3B2100NAJVC Victor Company 802.11b MiniPCI Module Model# WM3B2100WWJVC; F/W v. 0.09.023
ZyXEL Communications Corporation CardBus 11Mbps Wireless LAN Card / ZyAIR B-122
See Wi-Fi at CeBIT
Wi-Fi-based wireless LANs will be on display at CeBIT (Hall 13, Wireless Area Network Exchange Pavilion, Stand #D37, Booth #C6), March 18-24, 2004, at the Hannover Fairgrounds in Hannover, Germany.
About the Wi-Fi Alliance
The Wi-Fi Alliance (formerly WECA) is the global Wi-Fi organization that created the Wi-Fi brand. A nonprofit organization, the Alliance was formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of IEEE 802.11 products and to promote them as the global, wireless LAN standard across all market segments.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has instituted a test suite that defines how member products are tested to certify that they are interoperable with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. These tests are conducted at an independent laboratory.
Membership in the Wi-Fi Alliance is open to all companies that support the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance now comprises over 200 members from the world's leading companies. These companies offer over 1,000 Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products. For more information, please visit www.wi-fi.org, and for information on Wi-Fi ZONE public access locations go to www.wi-fizone.org.
Background Information:
WPA Security White Paper: www.wi- fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Whitepaper_Wi-Fi_Security4-29-03.pdf
WPA Q&A: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access_QA.pdf
WPA Overview: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access_Overview.pdf
WPA Home Overview: www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/pdf/WPA_Home_Overview.pdf
Contact:
C. Brian Grimm
Wave Communications
for Wi-Fi Alliance
Phone: +1-910.686.0870
E-Mail: briang@wavecoms.com