WiFi Basics
Some basic information regarding wifi and it's features and security.
Wi-Fi Standards Summary (Frequency, Speed & Security Info)
| Standard (Nickname) | Frequency & Speed | Security & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 802.11 (Original) | 2.4 GHz, 2 Mbps | No built-in security; obsolete legacy standard. |
| 802.11a | 5 GHz, 54 Mbps | Optional WEP; faster but limited range; mostly outdated. |
| 802.11b | 2.4 GHz, 11 Mbps | Weak WEP encryption; easily compromised; introduced early wireless networking. |
| 802.11g | 2.4 GHz, 54 Mbps | Supports WEP, WPA, WPA2; widely adopted; backward compatible with 802.11b. |
| 802.11h | 5 GHz, N/A | Focused on spectrum regulation (DFS, TPC); not a security-focused standard. |
| 802.11i (WPA2) | N/A | Introduced WPA2 with AES (CCMP); major leap in wireless security. |
| 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) | 2.4 / 5 GHz, up to 600 Mbps | Supports WPA and WPA2; MIMO tech improved speed and range. |
| 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) | 5 GHz, up to 1.3+ Gbps | Typically uses WPA2; supports WPA3 on newer devices; introduced beamforming. |
| 802.11ad (WiGig) | 60 GHz, up to 7 Gbps | Security varies by implementation; ultra high speed, very short range use. |
| 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 2.4 / 5 GHz, up to 10 Gbps | Designed for WPA3; optimal for dense environments; features OFDMA, MU-MIMO. |