Security Protocols in Wireless Communication: The Evolution and How They Mitigate the Threat

Over the past decade, wireless communication technology has advanced rapidly. This is marked by the evolution of cellular networks and WiFi standards that offer high speeds.

In a decade of wireless communication, this development has been accompanied by increased Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. The development of this technology is certainly inseparable from the challenges posed by security threats at every layer of communication.

This article will explain how security protocols in wireless communication have evolved, and how these developments ultimately relate to optimizing device performance.

Evolution of Wireless Security Protocols: From WEP to WPA3 

Wireless communication security protocols themselves have evolved from Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) in 1997 to Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) in 2018. This evolution has significantly strengthened encryption and authentication to combat increasing cyber threats.

• WEP: As a pioneer in the early days, this protocol still has fundamental flaws and is easily compromised.
• WPA & WPA2: These protocols were introduced in 2003 and 2004. They have undergone significant improvements, but still have vulnerabilities.
• WPA3: This is the newest and strongest protection for modern WiFi networks.

WPA3 also introduces the Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) standard, which provides better protection against brute-force attacks. This protection also guards against dictionary-based attacks.

WPA3 is an important standard in the era of IoT and high connectivity because it offers much stronger 192-bit encryption coupled with SAE protection. It can be the most reliable defense against data leaks amid the growing number of smart devices connected to the network.

Security in Cellular Networks: From 4G LTE to 5G NG-RAN 

Security in cellular networks has evolved from 4G LTE to 5G NG-RAN. Security developments have shifted from a centralized hardware-based model to a decentralized, cloud-based, software-defined (SDN) approach. 

Key developments include stronger authentication, enhanced encryption, network slicing, user privacy protection, Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), and Zero Trust-based security.

Next-Generation RAN (NG-RAN) itself is a specific radio infrastructure that connects devices to the 5G network core. NG-RAN uses Next Generation Node B (gNB) and supports New Radio (NR) technology for better speed and latency.

Key Principles of Wireless Communication Security Protocols 

Essentially, wireless communication security protocols have principles that cannot be avoided. 

• Strong encryption: This principle is used in WPA2 and WPA3 to offer better security against offline dictionary attacks.
• Authentication: A principle for authenticating individual users or devices through credentials.
• Network segmentation (VLAN): To limit lateral movement by attackers if one segment is compromised.
• Data integrity: Ensures that data transmitted over a wireless network remains unchanged.
• Management frame protection: To prevent malicious deauthentication frames that can disconnect network users.
• Minimal privileged access: To reduce potential vulnerabilities and damage from security breaches.
• Continuous monitoring: To detect threats, unauthorized access points, and malicious activity in real time.
• Regular updates: To protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities.

Common Wireless Attacks and How Protocols Address Them 

Wireless communication networks face a variety of significant threats. Here are some common wireless attacks:

• Evil twin attack: An attack using a fake AP with a name similar to a legitimate network to trick users.
• Eavesdropping: An attack using tools to capture unencrypted wireless traffic to steal transmitted data.
• WPS attack: An attack that exploits weak PINs to gain unauthorized access.
• Jamming/DoS attack: An attack that floods the radio frequency spectrum to disrupt or shut down network communications.
• Wardriving: Attacks by exploiting unsecured wireless networks.
• Bluejacking/Bluesniffing: Attacks via Bluetooth devices to steal data.

So how do wireless communication protocols deal with these threats? WPA3 and 5G have different mitigations for dealing with threats. 

WPA3 threat mitigation 

WPA3 is equipped with several features to mitigate threats:

• SAE: Makes dictionary attacks and brute-force attacks more difficult.
• Individual encryption: Each device has unique encryption, making it difficult to infiltrate.
• Forward secrecy: Protects encrypted data from future decryption.
• Enhanced security for IoT: Simplifies security configuration on smart devices.
• WPA3-Enterprise: High level of corporate security using 192-bit encryption.

5G threat mitigation

5G is equipped with several features to mitigate threats:

• Network slicing: Divides the physical network into several virtual networks.
• End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Prevents data interception along the transmission path.
• Stronger authentication: Authentication and Key Agreement will prevent device identity spoofing.
• IoT Security: The proliferation of IoT devices can be prevented with lightweight encryption and network segmentation.
• AI-based threat detection: This is where machine learning for wireless interference comes into play to monitor network traffic and detect anomalies faster.

That is how security protocols in wireless communication have evolved to the present day. Between WPA3 and 5G as the latest technologies, they also have different threat mitigations.

To avoid cyber attacks, you need to understand wireless communication security protocols. This understanding will enable you to prevent data leaks, ensure regulatory compliance, improve network performance, and maintain your business reputation.

In the future, security protocols will certainly continue to be improved. This is because AI and ML technologies can also be synergized to enhance wireless communication security.