Summary

This chapter describes how the designers started with the limitations of existing WEP systems and devised a whole new security protocol to fit. TKIP is a masterpiece of retro-engineering and provides real security in a way that WEP never could. All the major weaknesses of WEP have been addressed, including weak key attacks, lack of tamper detection, lack of replay protection, and others. Furthermore, TKIP has been designed by some of the most eminent experts in the field and confidence in the integrity of the solution is high.

Still, there is no doubt that TKIP is a compromise. The necessary simplicity of the Michael integrity protection means that network disruptive countermeasures are necessary. Also, although the weak key vulnerability has been mitigated by the key-mixing approach, the fundamental weakness in the first bytes of the RC4 key stream is still there and might in future be compromised in some way. It seems unlikely now, but it could happen.

Assuming no cracks show up, it seems likely that TKIP will be around for a long time and that new systems will also provide support, not just old WEP systems. However, there are a number of reasons why completely new users might want to consider the use of AES-based security, as described in the next chapter.



    Part II: The Design of Wi-Fi Security