Which of the following specifies WLAN security standard?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2):
The IEEE 802.11i amendment is the specific and definitive security standard for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). It was developed to overcome the major security shortcomings of the original IEEE 802.11's Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) protocol. Ratified in 2004, 802.11i introduced the framework for the Robust Security Network (RSN) and is the technical basis for the widely adopted Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2). This standard specifies advanced encryption and authentication methods, most notably the use of the Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP) which leverages the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), alongside the 802.1X framework for robust user authentication.

The incorrect option is (1):
IEEE 802.11 is the umbrella or base standard for all Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), defining the fundamental specifications for the Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY). It is the generic term for the Wi-Fi technology family, and all other 802.11 variants are amendments to this base standard. Crucially, the initial 802.11 specification contained the weak security protocol, WEP. Therefore, while it is the general standard for WLANs, it is not the *security* standard itself, which required the later 'i' amendment to be robust.

The incorrect option is (3):
IEEE 802.11b is an amendment that primarily concerns itself with the physical layer (PHY) and communication throughput. It was one of the first commercially successful Wi-Fi standards, enabling data rates of up to 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. Its focus is on increasing data transmission speed and capacity over the wireless medium. It is a communication protocol, and like the original standard, it suffered from the security vulnerabilities inherent in WEP, which was not solved until 802.11i.

The incorrect option is (4):
IEEE 802.11g is another physical layer amendment, designed to increase the performance of WLANs, not define new security measures. It uses Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology to achieve data rates up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band, effectively combining the higher speeds of 802.11a with the frequency range of 802.11b. As a speed-enhancement and compatibility standard, its primary role is in defining the mechanics of wireless communication, distinguishing it from the specific security focus of 802.11i.