can someone explain the difference between WPA+AES and WPA2+AES?

[dakata24]

I just got Linksys WRT54GS and noticed these additional options.

Prior to getting this router, i used WPA-PSK + TKIP with a cheap Zyxel.

I was curious and was reading up on AES up and it's only mentioned with WPA2 whereas WPA is only with TKIP.

Thanks

 

[Atheus]

As far as I understand it there is not much difference. The main advantage of WPA2 used to be that it used AES (the Advanced Encryption Standard) rather than the weaker TKIP, but some vendors have added AES support to the old WPA so that older equipment which does not support WPA2 can use the stronger algorithm.

 

[JackMDS]

AES cannot be compared to TKIP its comparable aspect of WPA is RC4.

AES is Encryption algorithm while TKIP is a Key generation

Purer WPA uses RC4 Encryption + TKIP

Pure WPA2 uses AES Encryption + CCMP

More here, http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

As Atheus said some vendors added AES without actually making it WPA2.

In addition, WPA2 in compatibility mode can fall back to a form of WPA that uses AES.

To be able to work both client and source must have the same security capacity.

Therefore, if your Router can do WPA2 but your Laptop is WEP you have to use WEP.

The preference should be

1. WPA2

2. WPA + AES

3. WPA

4. WEP

:sun:

 

[dakata24]

thanks a bunch. that explains everything. 🙂

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Therefore, if your Router can do WPA2 but your Laptop is WEP you have to use WEP.

Aha, a technical error. No, you have to ditch the laptop or get it a new wireless card. j/k in post, but in reality that's what I'd do if I could.

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
AES cannot be compared to TKIP its comparable aspect of WPA is RC4.

AES is Encryption algorithm while TKIP is a Key generation

Oops, my bad. Should have looked up TKIP.

 

[nweaver]

from a cisco bias....

wpa is a key managment schema, supporting tkip, wep, or AES
WPA2 is a key managment schema, supporting AES w/CCMP