WPA2 Password

Wi-Fi has indeed reshaped the way we live. It has changed how we study, work, and interact with each other. We tend to take Wi-Fi connections for granted. In the online world, cyber security is vital, and passwords are a great part of that. WPA2 (Wireless Fidelity Protected Access 2) is the safest setting of password that a user can have on the router. For the Wi-Fi routers, it is presently the recommended password type. WPA2 password is referred to as the second-generation protocol for the protected access to Wi-Fi. It is used to protect your home Wi-Fi network from unauthorized access.

Initially released in 2006, WPA2 has successfully survived the time test when the matter is network protection. You must first enter the WPA2 password while connecting to the Wi-Fi that is WPA2-guarded. Your device will be able to access the internet for a longer duration once you have successfully connected. Wi-Fi passwords and WPA2 passphrase are basically the same. However, the router login passwords are different. Now let’s dive into more details about WPA2 passwords.

Requirements of WPA2 Passwords

WPA2 needs a router with a passphrase length between 8- 63 characters for encrypting the data in the network. A technology named Temporary Key Integrity Program or TKIP is used, which needs the passphrase and network SSID to generate a unique encryption key for every wireless client. WPA2 itself basically does not have any requirement for password. But, you may choose the following combination:

  • Special keyboard characters
  • Numeric characters
  • Lowercase and uppercase letters

Over the top, you have to ensure that you are not using common keywords. You must never use something that is too obvious such as your name, nickname, birthday, or street name. Any expert would recommend you to use any random set of characters for your passwords. However, some websites recommend using a password length of a minimum of 16 characters. A character less than that can be cracked easily by a hacker.

Hackers use computer tools to guess billions and millions of passwords every minute. The only way you can protect your WPA2 passwords is to increase the odds of them not cracking it soon. The password that is really a lot hard to crack in real-time is known as a good WPA2 password. You can utilize a good online tool to check the strength of your password. If you have a weak password, it is the best time to switch to a safer and better WPA2 password.

Set a WPA2 Password

At the time of router setup, WPA2 password is set. If you have used a step-by-step process, the router page tells you to set your Wi-Fi name, that is followed by WPA2 Password. You have to log into the settings page of the router when you need to set up a new password or change the existing one. Some routers permit changing the passwords from companion mobile applications also. You must always set a strong password to get better protection.

Locate your WPA2 password

It is quite natural to forget your WPA2 password with time. You enter the password in your new device once, and you will forever remember it. Moreover, you can also locate your WPA2 password either from the connected devices or from the router itself. The common way to find the security settings of the Wi-Fi router that includes the WPA 2 password is to sign in to the settings page of the router in a browser.

To open the security settings of the router, you have to know the IP address of the router. In most cases, it is written on the bottom or side of the router itself. If you don’t find it here, you can find it on your computer. After you have received the IP address, you can open any of the web browsers. Hit the enter key after you have written the IP address of the router. Then,  log in to the router’s settings page using the username and password you initially used while installing the router. You can check the setup guide for the router.

After the internal configuration, username and password have been adopted by you, you will be able to navigate to the management tab or the protection tab, depending on the brand of the router. All the routers are different, but you will be able to find the WPA2 settings typically in a section named “Security” or “Wireless”. You will notice a menu where you can choose the security protocol like WPA, WEP, or WEP2 and the present password. If you still cannot find your password or login in to the router, contact your internet service provider or the manufacturer of router.

A safer option

After the WEP was cracked successfully, WPA was released. The WPA2 is a much-improved version of the previous original WPA standard. WPA2 is difficult to hack and a lot stronger than WEP. Every modern router of today recommends using WPA2 passwords for better protection and safety. The security of the wireless connections is also improved by using WPA2 as it requires strong wireless encryption.

Wrapping up

By now, it must have been clear to you that WPA2 is a kind of security that is used with password to prevent any unauthorized access to the network. It does not use an enterprise authentication server. As of today, WPA2 is the best choice. It must be used on home or small office networks whenever possible.

Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.

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