WPA3: The Greatest Security Protocol That May Never Be

Abstract

Wi-Fi Protected Access version 3 (WPA3) is the newest security standard for wireless networks. Ratified in 2018, and mandatory for devices bearing the Wi-Fi trademark since July of 2020, the protocol has many security improvements over previous versions. It has better encryption and key sharing than the older WPA2 protocol. Unfortunately, adoption of WPA3 is likely to be very slow, just like its predecessors. These delays have nothing to do with the protocol, and everything to do with human factors and legacy systems. Many users do not understand either why they need new security measures, or how to implement them. Legacy systems, specifically Internet of Things (IoT) devices which can only connect to WPA2 networks, are widespread, and probably will not be updated. This paper is a call for industry awareness and action.