Improved wi-fi security coming this year

Wi-fi users can look forward to more secure connections this year, courtesy of an updated version of the industry standard authentication and transmission protocol for wireless networking.

Later this year, the wi-fi protected access version 3 (WPA3) will appear, with new security features to protect against attacks.

The current WPA2 protocol was broken last year by security researcher Matty Vanhoef who discovered the KRACK key reinstallation attack which can be used to listen in on users' data traffic.

Industry organisation Wi-Fi Alliance will publish a draft specification for WPA3 and devices supporting the more secure protocol will appear this year.

Several new features will be added to WPA3, including protection against brute-force guessing of passwords through blocking logins after too many failed attempts.

WPA3 will also provide data encryption for devices connected to open networks.

The new protocol will use 192-bit encryption aligned with the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite, which the Wi-Fi Alliance says " will further protect wi-fi networks with higher security requirements such as government, defence, and industrial."

Furthermore, WPA3 will make it easier to configure security on devices that have limited or no display interfaces, such as Internet of Things gadgets.