Which security standard simplifies the connection process for consumer devices but is vulnerable if the PIN feature is enabled or the access point isn't secured?

Which security standard simplifies the connection process for consumer devices but is vulnerable if the PIN feature is enabled or the access point isn't secured?

• A. WPS
• B. WEP
• C. WPA2
• D. WPA3

Answer: (A)

WPS is all about making it easy for devices to join a Wi-Fi network, offering quick options like a push-button connect or an 8-digit PIN instead of typing a password. The problem arises with the PIN method: the way the PIN is verified is susceptible to brute-forcing. The PIN is divided into two parts, so an attacker can test a relatively small number of guesses (on the order of a few tens of thousands) to recover the correct PIN. Once the PIN is known, an attacker can trigger the WPS enrollment to obtain the network credentials and gain access. That risk is amplified if WPS is enabled on the access point and the network isn’t otherwise secured, as it effectively bypasses the stronger password protection. In contrast, WEP is obsolete, and WPA2/WPA3 do not rely on this vulnerable PIN-based enrollment for joining the network.

WPS is all about making it easy for devices to join a Wi-Fi network, offering quick options like a push-button connect or an 8-digit PIN instead of typing a password. The problem arises with the PIN method: the way the PIN is verified is susceptible to brute-forcing. The PIN is divided into two parts, so an attacker can test a relatively small number of guesses (on the order of a few tens of thousands) to recover the correct PIN. Once the PIN is known, an attacker can trigger the WPS enrollment to obtain the network credentials and gain access. That risk is amplified if WPS is enabled on the access point and the network isn’t otherwise secured, as it effectively bypasses the stronger password protection. In contrast, WEP is obsolete, and WPA2/WPA3 do not rely on this vulnerable PIN-based enrollment for joining the network.