312-50V9 · Question #56
WPA2 uses AES for wireless data encryption at which of the following encryption levels?
The correct answer is C. 128 bit and CCMP. WPA2 uses the AES cipher with the CCMP protocol at 128-bit key length as its standard encryption mechanism. CCMP replaced the weaker TKIP protocol that was used in the original WPA standard.
Question
WPA2 uses AES for wireless data encryption at which of the following encryption levels?
Options
- A64 bit and CCMP
- B128 bit and CRC
- C128 bit and CCMP
- D128 bit and TKIP
How the community answered
(27 responses)- A7% (2)
- B4% (1)
- C89% (24)
Why each option
WPA2 uses the AES cipher with the CCMP protocol at 128-bit key length as its standard encryption mechanism. CCMP replaced the weaker TKIP protocol that was used in the original WPA standard.
WPA2 uses 128-bit keys, not 64-bit; 64-bit key lengths are associated with older, weaker ciphers such as DES, not AES in WPA2.
CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) is an error-detection algorithm, not an encryption or authentication protocol, and it is not part of the WPA2 specification.
WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i) mandates the use of AES operating in 128-bit mode paired with CCMP (Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol). CCMP provides both data confidentiality and integrity, making it significantly stronger than its predecessor TKIP. This combination is the defining security characteristic that distinguishes WPA2 from WPA.
TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) is the encryption protocol used by the original WPA standard, not WPA2; WPA2 replaced TKIP with the stronger CCMP.
Concept tested: WPA2 AES encryption standard and CCMP protocol
Source: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-97/final
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