Which wireless security protocol has been discouraged in favor of newer standards due to known vulnerabilities?

The wireless security protocol that has been discouraged in favor of newer standards due to known vulnerabilities is WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy). WEP was one of the first encryption methods developed for wireless networks to provide a level of security similar to that of wired networks. However, over time, numerous security vulnerabilities were discovered in WEP that made it relatively easy for attackers to compromise network security.

These vulnerabilities stem from weaknesses in the way WEP generates encryption keys and manages them. For example, WEP used the RC4 encryption algorithm and had limitations in its key management practices, resulting in predictable keys. This predictability allowed attackers to exploit the protocol and gain unauthorized access to the network.

In contrast, more recent protocols such as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2 were developed to address these issues, providing stronger encryption methods and better key management. The use of WPA2, in particular, incorporates the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and offers much stronger security protections that are essential for modern wireless communication.

As a result, WEP is now largely regarded as obsolete and insecure, making it inappropriate for protecting sensitive wireless communications and prompting a shift to more secure protocols like WPA2 and WPA3.