(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What new authentication technology is introduced with Wi-Fi Protected Access v3 (WPA3)?

1. Blockchain

2. SAE

3. RKIP

4. Blowfish

The correct answer is: SAE

Wi-Fi Protected Access v3 (WPA3) introduces Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) as a new authentication technology, which enhances the security of the password-based authentication process. SAE is designed to replace the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) method used in previous versions of Wi-Fi security protocols. SAE utilizes a more secure password-based authentication mechanism that includes features to protect against offline dictionary attacks. This means that if an attacker captures the encrypted data, they cannot simply attempt to guess the password outside of the real-time connection, significantly strengthening network security. Moreover, SAE provides a more robust way of establishing a shared secret by using a Diffie-Hellman key exchange, which allows both parties to establish a secure connection even if they start with a shared password. In contrast, other technologies mentioned do not relate to WPA3’s new authentication mechanisms. For instance, blockchain is a decentralized ledger technology and does not pertain to Wi-Fi authentication. RKIP (Robust Key Integrity Protocol) is an older protocol related to pre-WPA2 security methodologies. Blowfish is a symmetric-key block cipher that has its applications in encryption rather than directly in authentication protocols like those employed by WPA3. Overall, SAE's introduction in