802.11i RSN defined the RSNA (Robust Security Network Association), which significantly improved the authentication and encryption mechanisms used in Wi-Fi networks. Prior to RSNA, networks […]
security
AES Key Wrap: How It Works
When we need to securely send a key, we encrypt it. That’s exactly what AES Key Wrap does—it provides a standardized way to encrypt a […]
How PBKDF2 Converts a Passphrase to a Key
PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) WPA2-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 – Pre-Shared Key) employs CCMP-AES encryption with a pre-shared key (PSK). However, user-entered passphrases […]
Hash Functions in 802.11: HMAC and PRF Explained
Hash functions play a crucial role in various applications, including hash maps, integrity checks, pseudo-random value generation, and transforming a passphrase into a usable key. […]
How SHA-1 Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
Hash functions are one-way functions, meaning they take some input data and generate a fixed-size output that resembles encrypted data but cannot be reversed to […]
Understanding FCS in 802.11: CRC-32 Explained
FCS (Frame Check Sequence) is the name of the 802.11 MAC address frame field, which is calculated over both the 802.11 header and frame body. […]
Understanding the Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) Encryption in WPA-3
WPA3 uses advanced encryption techniques to protect data confidentiality and integrity in wireless networks. The encryption method it uses is Galois/Counter Mode (GCM), which enhances […]
CCM Authenticated Encryption: A Detailed Walkthrough
In my last post, I talked about encryption modes, covering the outdated and not-so-great ECB, along with CBC and CTR. Now let’s dive into CCM […]
Understanding AES Encryption Modes: From ECB to CBC and CTR
In previous posts, we discussed how AES encryption works, breaking down the process of encrypting a 128-bit (16-byte) plaintext into a ciphertext of the same […]
Understanding AES Key Expansion
This post explains how the key expansion process works for AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256. To review some fundamentals: AES is an encryption standard that encrypts […]