When defending your home network from invaders, knowing security terminology helps. While the definition of network security key is in the context (a key that secures your network), it comes in many forms. Below, we will provide more information on everything you need to know about a network security key.
A network security key, or WiFi password, is a specific code that people need to access your network. In an ideal home internet setup, you would require a network password (key) to access the internet.
All wireless devices need a key if your home internet security is set up correctly. What that key looks like differs depending on your chosen security protocol, a topic we will revisit later.
These keys are limited to wireless networks. However, wired connections might have network limitations locked behind similar keys, but these are not the same kinds of keys.
A standard WiFI password does not provide you with admin privileges. For example, you’ll need the router’s admin password if you want to change network settings (which differs from the WiFi passcode). So a network security key grants access to the network but doesn’t provide access to change router settings.
Your network key is the same thing as your WiFi password. There is never a case where this is untrue, as the term WiFi password and security key are interchangeable when used in this context.
The default security key (what your router initially comes with) might differ from what you have it set to now. Often, you set these up with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
ISPs typically won’t help you in cases where you have a third-party router. This is because their network technicians don’t have built-in remote access from company-specific routers. So they can’t walk you through setting up a key because they don’t have access.
In cases where your ISP won’t show you how to establish a key, you can use these steps to select your wireless password:
What you change your security key into varies depending on the type of security you choose. Selecting a strong password is essential, and you can read some tips on that below.
In cases where you want to share your password with a trusted friend, you need to know where to find it. Here are your different options:
Finding the network key on your router can be done in one of two ways:
Most routers enable you to view your password by clicking a check box above or below that reveals your password. If your router doesn’t have this, you might change your password to something you can remember.
Viewing your password on any connected device can be done through the internet settings. Windows devices must follow the following:
Your other option is to select the network from your taskbar. Selecting properties will also reveal a menu to show your internet password.
If you are on macOS, you can follow these steps to find your password:
Keychain Access is Mac’s password manager, so you can store all of your network credentials here. The use of a password manager can be great, but I wouldn’t recommend Apple’s manager.
Like Mac devices, iOS enables you to look up the wireless password through the network settings. To do so, all you need to do is access network settings.
Your other option is to share the WiFi password via a personal hotspot. You can check that out through this video:
Like other mobile devices, Google’s Android enables you to share a wireless connection through hotspot access. However, this hotspot cannot be an extension of your WiFi, only an extension of your mobile network.
Mobile networks often require you to pay extra for establishing wireless hotspots. The downer about this is that you can only “share your WiFI password” from Android devices by typing them in from another source.
Most modern routers rely on one of two types of security keys:
Some networks also require different types of authentication, which we will address below. All WiFi protocols come from the same source: the WiFi Alliance.
WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is the earliest known element of wireless protection. It is an old-fashioned method of security known for 64-bit 128-bit key encryption methods.
Those who read our basics blog on VPNs know that this encryption style is not secure. As a result, WEP was no longer supported as of 2004.
WEP persists in a small number of households with outdated tech. To address this weakness, WEP made way for WPA.
WPA, or WiFi Protected Access, was released a year before (2003) the discontinuation of WEP. WPA was the earliest form using a more modern 256-bit encryption set.
When people refer to a WPA key, they talk about the wireless network key. This makes it another term interchangeable with wireless passwords.
WPA2 (still often called just WPA) was geared more towards offering shared passcodes. This is where WPA2-PSK comes from, as PSK standards for Pre-Shared Passcodes.
WPA2 also included two additional well-known encryption algorithms:
Both were advancing the original WPA’s TKP (Temporal Key Integrity). Eventually, an additional upgrade was found in WPA3, released in 2018, making it a 14-year gap from WPA2 (in 2004).
WPA3 is known to offer further protection through the following bonuses:
Despite the enhanced security, WPA3 is known for having numerous vulnerabilities. In 2019, security researchers revealed these exploits:
The WiFi Alliance announced bug fixes to bot issues. Regardless, these vulnerabilities are typical with the release of these widespread security platforms.
On the business side of confirmation, two-factor authentication is an aspect of network access. Two-factor authentication (2FA) involves verifying your identity with your network password and other signatures.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA, another word for it) makes it possible to limit network access by specific identities. This can be important in cases where you want to take extra steps to prevent unauthorized access.
MFA comes in many forms:
Because MFA requires access to multiple devices and means of verification, it is the ultimate way to prevent unwanted access. The problem is that you’ll have to put personal identification on some third-party sites to get this done. For example, some privacy-conscious individuals might not want to use Google Authenticator.
You might wonder why you should bother with a network security key if known exploits for all types of security keys. The reality is that if you don’t share your network publically, most home networks can avoid many risks. Business networks might consider adding multi-factor authentication for additional security. Guest networks (like your public cafes) should be sure to set up a dual network (one only for employees and one for visitors).
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