802.1x Authentication
802.1x is a protocol that specifies the method Sprint SmartView will use to obtain an encryption key during the WiFi login process. It is really just a standard framework that specifies a second protocol, called an “EAP Type” (Extended Access Protocol), to accomplish most of its work. Therefore, when attempting to access a network that requires 802.1x Authentication, you will need to correctly specify the EAP used and configure the options for that EAP. Consult the administrator of the WiFi network you are trying to access for the correct settings.
Because it requires a certain amount of infrastructure, 802.1x is typically used in office and enterprise environments.
What Does “PSK” Stand For?
PSK stands for
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
WEP was the standard encryption technology that was used in the early days of WiFi networks. More secure methods, such as WPA have since emerged, but WEP remains an extremely popular choice for encrypted networks. There are two variants of WEP:
●WEP Open: This is by far the most commonly used version of WEP. Networks that use this variant don’t bother to verify that you have the correct encryption key before allowing you to connect. After all, if you don't have the connect encryption key, you won’t be able to communicate with the network anyway.
●WEP Shared: This variant forces you to prove you have the correct encryption key before it allows you to connect. It does this by sending out some sample text for Sprint SmartView to encrypt. If the result that the network gets back is what it expected, then it allows you to connect. Ironically, this is somewhat less secure than WEP Open because the verification process used gives potential intruders a large hint about the contents of the encryption key.
WiFi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2)
WiFi Protected Access (WPA) is a significant improvement over WEP for both enterprises and home users. It was developed when an industry trade group known as the WiFi Alliance became concerned that the security in the existing WEP Standard was insufficient. They quickly issued an interim standard that would address most of their concerns while they developed a more complete final standard. The interim standard would become known as WPA, while the final standard would be termed WPA2.
Because 802.1x is a required component of WPA, both WPA and WPA2 provide an upgrade path for enterprises that allows them to preserve existing investments in 802.1x/EAP Authentication capabilities. In addition, home users can take advantage of a
To use WPA, you will need a
WiFi Networks
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