In the context of network security, what does WEP aim to accomplish?

WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is a security protocol designed specifically to protect the data transmitted over wireless networks. By implementing WEP, the primary objective is to secure the data being sent between devices connected to a wireless network, thereby preventing unauthorized access and eavesdropping. WEP encrypts the data packets transmitted over radio waves, ensuring that even if a malicious actor intercepts the transmission, they would be unable to decipher the encrypted data without the corresponding encryption keys.

The focus of WEP on protecting wireless transmission data illustrates the critical need for security in wireless communication, which is inherently more vulnerable compared to wired networks due to the open-air transmission of signals. This underscores the importance of encryption to maintain data confidentiality and integrity in wireless communications, aligning with WEP’s main goal of achieving a level of security comparable to wired networks.