Wireless security terms

Wireless network security refers to the protection of wireless networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access, theft, or damage.

WPAN is a wireless local area network (WLAN) refers to a network that allows devices to connect and communicate wirelessly within a limited area, such as a home, school, or office building, using radio waves.

A wireless intrusion prevention system (WIPS) is a security system designed to protect wireless networks from unauthorized access and malicious activities.

Wireless fidelity is a part of the marketing slogan for Wi-Fi used by WECA (the precursor to the Wi-Fi Alliance) to promote the technology to home users.

Wireless application service providers (WASPs) are companies that help businesses offer mobile services (e.g., texting, payments, and content delivery) to users.

Wired equivalent privacy (WEP) is a security protocol used to protect data transmitted over wireless networks.

Wired equivalent privacy 2 (WEP2) is the second version of an outdated security protocol used for protecting data transmitted over wireless networks, WEP.

Wideband Code Division Multiple Access is a third-generation (3G) mobile communication standard.

Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, offers a quicker way to link devices to a wireless network.

Wi-Fi protected access pre-shared key (WPA-PSK) refers to a mode of Wi-Fi security which is commonly used in home networks and small businesses without enterprise-level equipment.

Wi-Fi Direct refers to a wireless technology that enables two devices to communicate with each other directly over Wi-Fi.

War driving refers to the act of searching the neighborhoods for Wi-Fi wireless networks, often driving around in a vehicle equipped with a Wi-Fi-enabled device, and mapping these networks.

Voice over wireless local area network (VoWLAN) is a technology that allows you to make phone calls using Wi-Fi instead of a traditional phone line.

A transmitter is an electronic telecommunications device used for transmitting data.

Tethering is the practice of connecting two devices (smartphones, laptops, desktops, and/or tablets) together so that one device can use the mobile internet of the other one when Wi-Fi is not available.

Temporal key integrity protocol (also known as TKIP) is an encryption method for wireless local area networks.

A service set identifier, or SSID, is the name of your Wi-Fi network.

Spatial multiplexing is a model of transmission, usually used in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems, where multiple independent data streams are transmitted over multiple antennas to increase the data rate.

A scatternet is an ad hoc network formed between two or more piconets (independent Bluetooth networks made up of one parent device and up to seven active child devices) in proximity.

A rogue access point is a wireless access point that was set up without the network’s administrator’s or owner’s consent.

RF jamming, also known as radio frequency jamming, is the deliberate interference or disruption of wireless communication signals using radio frequency signals of similar frequencies.

MiFi is a brand name for a type of wireless router that can act like a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.

Long-term evolution (LTE) is a standard that is used to deliver data faster to mobile devices and data terminals around the world.

Jamming refers to often illegal activity in which someone is interfering with the radio signals of a network or system.

A jammer is a mobile communications device that transmits on the same frequency band as a cellphone.

Hotspot refers to a location or device that provides wireless internet access to other devices, often using Wi-Fi.

Geofencing is a technology that creates virtual boundaries in real-world areas using GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, or cellular data.

Fixed wireless access (FWA) is a method to provide internet access to homes or businesses using wireless technologies rather than traditional wired solutions like fiber or DSL.

An extended service set is a group of interconnected wireless access points and stations that form a single logical network.

Evolution Data Only (also known as Evolution-Data Optimized) is a telecommunications standard for wireless transmission using radio signals.

Discoverable mode is a state in which a Bluetooth device becomes visible to other Bluetooth devices — it broadcasts its presence so that other devices within range can detect it.

Bluetooth is a low-power wireless technology that uses ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves for secure data exchange over short distances.