What is WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)?

What is WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)?

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easy and secure establishment of a wireless network. Traditionally, users would have to manually create a wireless network name (SSID), and then manually entering a creative, yet predictable security key on both the access point and client to prevent unwanted access to their wireless network.
This whole process requires the users to have the background knowledge of the Wi-Fi devices and the ability to make the necessary configuration changes. With WPS, it will automatically configure a wireless network with a network name (SSID) and strong WPA data encryption and authentication. WPS is designed to support various Wi-Fi certified 802.11 products ranging from access points, wireless adapters, Wi-Fi phones, and other consumer electronics devices.

WPS can be enabled using 2 options:

1. PIN (Personal Identification Number) Method, in which a PIN has to be taken either from a sticker label or from the web interface of the WPS device. This PIN will then be entered in the AP or client WPS device to connect.

2. PBC (Push button configuration) Method, in which the user simply has to push a button, either an actual or a virtual one, on both WPS devices to connect.

Advantages of WPS

· WPS automatically configures the network name (SSID) and WPA security key for the access point and the WPS enabled client devices on a network.

· You need not know the SSID and security keys or passphrases when connecting WPS-enabled devices.

· No one can guess or figure out your security keys or passphrase because the keys will be randomly generated.

· No predictable passphrases or long sequences of hexadecimal to enter

· Information and network credentials are securely exchanged over the air using the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), one of the authentication protocols used in WPA2.

· WPS has been integrated and is supported in Windows Vista.

Disadvantages of WPS

· It does not support “Ad-Hoc” mode or network where wireless devices are communicated directly to each other without an access point.

· All of the Wi-Fi devices on the network must be WPS certified or WPS-compatible, otherwise you will not be able to take advantage of the ease of securing the network.

· Difficult to add a non-WPS client device to the network because of the long sequences of hexadecimal characters generated by the WPS technology.

· This technology is fairly new, so not every vendor will support the WPS technology.

Facts about WPS

· WPS is a non-proprietary specification that will be a certified technology controlled by Wi-Fi Alliance.

· WPS is an optional certification program for Wi-Fi Certified products.

o Not all Wi-Fi Certified products will include WPS support, users need to look for the Wi-Fi Protected Setup logo or term on the products to ensure that the product is WPS compatible.

· There are 2 primary methods used in the Wi-Fi Protected Setup:

o PIN entry – a mandatory method of setup for all WPS certified devices

o Push button configuration (PBC) – an actual push button on the hardware or through a simulated push button in the software. (This is an optional method on wireless client).

· If you are using the PIN method, you will need a Registrar (access point/wireless router) to initiate the registration between a new device and an active access point/wireless router. (Note: The PBC method may also need a Registrar when used in a special case where the PIN is all zeros)

· WPS is NOT a new security feature – it makes the existing security features easier to configure