Which encryption standard is abbreviated as WEP?

WEP stands for Wired Equivalency Privacy, which was designed to provide a wireless local area network with a level of security comparable to what is expected for a wired network. This standard aimed to ensure that wireless communication was made safer by implementing encryption, much like traditional wired networks, thereby protecting data as it travels through the air.

WEP uses a static key system to encrypt data, which means that the same key is used for all transmissions, providing a form of basic data confidentiality over wireless networks. While it was a pivotal step in securing wireless communications at the time of its inception, WEP has known vulnerabilities that have led to it being largely replaced by more secure protocols such as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2.

Understanding WEP's original intent helps underscore why it is essential for modern networks to utilize more robust encryption methods due to the advancements in technology and hacking techniques since the introduction of WEP.