Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2006/08/20/wps_announced/

Safe Wi-Fi could be on your doorstep soon

WPS to allay wireless security concerns?

By Guy Kewney

Posted in Networks, 20th August 2006 08:02 GMT

The Wi-Fi Alliance has officially announced Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) in an attempt to to make safe Wi-Fi easier.

WPS is the name for its upcoming consumer ease-of-use program, formerly code named "Wi-Fi Simple Config".

"Slated for launch in Q4 of this year, the program is planned as an optional certification based on a standardised method for security setup in home Wi-Fi networks," the alliance said yesterday.

WNN's Glenn Fleishman said: "While individual chipmakers Atheros and Broadcom have spent some years trying to get manufacturer uptake for easier security setup, and Buffalo has long had its AOSS hardware button solution on its gear, the whole point of WiFi is that it's mix and match. As much as vendors don't like it, you will often find heterogeneous gear in a single household. Thus, a Wi-Fi Alliance backed initiative must take the day in the end."

The dream of the alliance is to make Wi-Fi more ubiquitous. It recently revealed the results of a research survey, conducted with Kelton Research. Among key takeaway data items:

The alliance research also "indicates that 43 per cent of Wi-Fi users found that installing security on a home Wi-Fi network was moderately-to-very difficult," the pressure group said.

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