OK lets all take stock and use some logic here and I respectfully disagree with a few of the comments generally being banded about ! And i overall am unhappy about the general forum bashing as well as people may find a hint useful even though 'you' have not.
WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK does not require an 'authentication server' per se as @leamanc has suggested.
Pre-Shared Key (PSK) Mode
The PSK mode is designed for home or small network use where an 802.1x authentication server isn't required. WPA-PSK works by regularly changing the automatic encryption keys authenticated between computers, your server or router and other devices that connect to it. PSK dramatically improves protection over WEP, as the encryption keys change very quickly, thus preventing intruders from gathering data to break encryption and into your network.
Now lets get to Encryption.....
WPA tends to use TKIP and WPA2 uses AES encryption.
Both these methods Apple call WPA Personal or WPA2 Personal.
AES is preferred as it is more secure and recent exploits of TKIP have led to it being slowly phased out just like WEP which should not be used at all.
However WPA works with most older hardware where as WPA2 will require more modern hardware (6 year old ish)
Overall with modern Wi-FI hardware using 'n' protocol you need to ONLY use WPA2 with AES encryption to get the best speeds/throughput. But that is another story.
I do not really want to go into WPA2 Enterprise, RADIUS, 802.1X etc as this is just going to make it even more complex for people to understand and irrelevant for Home users as this used when connecting to Business/Enterprise networks.
- WPA2 is currently the recommended password type for Wi-Fi routers, and lets you secure your network with a custom password.
- You can find and change your WPA2 password by logging into the router's settings page in a web browser.
- Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.
Download WIFI WPS WPA TESTER for PC (Windows 7, 8, 10 and Mac) Because of their wireless nature, WiFi networks have many vulnerabilities. For example, an unauthorized person can access the network if such a person gets the password to the WiFi network. When you subscribe to an Internet service, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides you with a network password. Look for this password on your wireless router or in the original paperwork that came from your ISP. The password might be labeled Wireless Key, security password, WPA2 password.
- Mac OS X WPA Password Cracker. Run Portable Penetrator via VMware fusion on Mac OS X. Mac OS X is a great choice when performing WiFi WPA Password Cracker pen testing auditing of clients WiFi Access Points. Apple deliver a high performance high end operating system that.
- It's just incorrect. I think what's confused kirkmc is the mention of 'WPA-PSK', which sounds esoteric but is actually the basic form of wifi password protection offered by virtually every home router in the world (and many small business routers too). The author's claim that 'your Mac.
If you've had an internet router installed in your home recently, chances are that it's using WPA2 password protection.
Short for 'Wi-Fi protected Access 2,' WPA2 debuted in 2006 and has been the preferred security protocol since that time.
But how does WPA2 work? And is it even safe?
What Is A Wpa Password For Mac Catalina
Here's what you need to know about WPA2, including a guide on how to find your WPA2 password using a Mac or PC.
Check out the products mentioned in this article:
Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)
Acer Chromebook 15 (From $358.99 at Staples)
WPA2 is the safest form of Wi-Fi password protection
WPA2 protection is immensely safe. WPA2 relies on a user-generated password to keep strangers out of your internet, and there's currently no way for a hacker to infiltrate it remotely.
The original security protocol for Wi-Fi networks was called WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), but it had a number of serious vulnerabilities. Established in 1999, it had been cracked by 2001. It was then superseded by the first version of WPA in 2003, which was replaced by WPA2 in 2006.
If your router is using any security protocol other than WPA2, you should open the router's settings and change it to WPA2.
The most common way to locate your Wi-Fi router's security settings, which includes the WPA2 password, is by signing into your router's settings page in a web browser.
If the router's manufacturer offers a mobile app, you might be able to see the WPA2 settings there as well.
How to find your WPA2 password
1. To open the router's security settings, you'll need to know the router's IP address. This is often written on the side or bottom of the router itself, but if you can't find it there, you can look up the IP address on your computer. Check out our article on how to do just that.
© Dave Johnson/Business Insider The 'Default Gateway' on Windows computers is your router's IP address. Dave Johnson/Business Insider2. Once you have the IP address, open any web browser. In the browser, enter the router's IP address in the address bar and press Enter or Return.
3. You'll need to log into the router's settings page using the username and password you used when you installed the router. Check the router's setup guide, or the notes you took when you reset the username and password. Many routers also have this written on the side or bottom.
© Dave Johnson/Business Insider Log into your router's settings page to find the WPA2 password. Dave Johnson/Business Insider4. Every router is different, but you can typically find the WPA2 settings in a section called 'wireless' or 'security.' You should see a menu in which you can select the security protocol (such as WEP, WPA, or WPA2) and the current password.
© Dave Johnson/Business Insider You may need to browse the admin controls to find the security protocol. Dave Johnson/Business InsiderIf you find that you can't log into your router, or can't find your password, try contacting the router's manufacturer or your internet service provider.