The IEEE 802.11i specification, the latest set of rules
to bolster security on wireless Lans, has received final approval,
according to a co-author of the standard.
The IEEE 802.11i subcommittee signed off on the standard last
week, according to a statement from Trapeze Networks that was
attributed to Dan Harkins, a software engineer at the wireless Lan
equipment supplier.
Harkins was a co-author of several portions of the
specification.
The specification adds the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)
protocol to 802.11, which forms the basis of Wi-Fi wireless Lan
technologies.
AES is a stronger form of encryption than is found in the
current WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) mechanism and is the security
standard for wireless networks that carry US government
information.
The Wi-Fi Alliance has said it plans to certify products for
802.11i support beginning in September.
Stephen Lawson writes for IDG News
Service