What are the disadvantages of WPA3?Â

Not all older routers and devices support WPA3. Some devices may struggle to connect if a network is WPA3-only. WPA3âs stronger encryption can slightly increase processing demand on low-power devices, though most modern hardware handles it without issues.

WPA3 explained: what it is and how it improves Wi-Fi security

What is WPA3?

WPA3 is the latest and most advanced Wi-Fi security protocol, designed to replace the WPA2 protocol that had been in place since 2004, and strengthen wireless network protection.

Developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, WPA3 improves encryption and protects against password-cracking attacks. It has also been designed to improve security on both public and smart home networks, which can otherwise leave people vulnerable.

With the growing prevalence of Internet of Things devices and work-from-home setups, people are looking to secure their Wi-Fi networks and prevent any opportunities for criminals to break through. Cybercriminals are often quick to exploit weaknesses in older security standards which make it necessary to use stronger authentication and encryption. WPA3 tackles these issues by introducing more sophisticated cryptographic methods that make it tough for attackers to intercept data.

How WPA3 fits into the future of Wi-Fi security

WPA3 adoption is growing, especially with newer Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 devices. However, WPA2 remains widely used, and many networks continue to support both standards for compatibility.

With the arrival of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7, network speeds around the world have increased significantly. However, higher speeds mean little if security lags behind. That’s why WPA3 is now a requirement for Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 certifications.

Newer routers and devices supporting these faster Wi-Fi generations must also include WPA3 encryption by default. This ensures that networks benefit from both higher speeds and better security, making Wi-Fi more efficient and resilient against cyber threats.

As more smart home devices enter the market, Wi-FI security challenges continue to evolve. When WPA2 was introduced in 2004, the concept of a “smart home” was mostly fictional. By the time WPA3 was introduced, devices like smart doorbells and home automation systems had become widespread. Unfortunately, many of these devices lack strong security protections, making them easy targets for hackers. There are over 47 million smart homes in the United States alone, creating millions of potential entry points for cybercriminals.

WPA3 introduced features like Wi-Fi Easy Connect, which simplifies the setup process while improving security. Instead of having to enter long passwords manually, users can scan a QR code or use NFC pairing to securely connect their IoT devices. This not only enhances convenience but eliminates common vulnerabilities linked to weak passwords.

The world of business can also benefit from using WPA3. Many businesses handle large amounts of sensitive data such as customer information and even bank details. WPA3-Enterprise strengthens network security by using 192-bit encryption and new authentication protocols, making corporate networks far less susceptible to cyberattacks.

Large-scale businesses, government institutions, and healthcare organizations are increasingly adopting WPA3 to protect confidential data and ensure compliance with security regulations.

What’s the difference between WPA2 and WPA3?

While WPA2 was a solid standard for over a decade, it had notable weaknesses that hackers exploited, like the KRACK (Key Reinstallation Attack) vulnerability to steal data. WPA3 fixes these vulnerabilities and introduces significant improvements in encryption, authentication, and public Wi-Fi safety.

Stronger protection against password attacks (SAE vs. PSK)

One of WPA2’s biggest flaws was its reliance on Pre-Shared Key (PSK) authentication, which was vulnerable to brute force attacks. Attackers could capture Wi-Fi packets and effectively use software to repeatedly guess passwords until they gained access.

WPA3 replaces this vulnerable PSK with Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), a much more secure authentication method.

SAE means that:

Even if an attacker intercepts Wi-Fi handshake data, they can’t reuse it to guess passwords offline.

Password-guessing attempts are rate-limited, meaning hackers can’t bombard the network with login attempts.

It becomes significantly harder to compromise a network, even if users choose weaker passwords (this is never recommended, of course).

Forward secrecy and why it matters

WPA3 introduces forward secrecy which makes sure past transmissions remain secure even if current session keys are compromised.

With WPA2, anyone who obtained the network key could decrypt old traffic which is a major vulnerability, especially in corporate environments where sensitive information is transmitted and companies have a responsibility to their customers. WPA3 solves this by assigning unique encryption keys to every session, so past communications remain secure even if the password is compromised later.

Public Wi-Fi security improvements (Wi-Fi Enhanced Open)

Public Wi-Fi networks have always been risky, as many of them are insecure. Since a lot of public hotspots don’t require passwords, attackers can easily intercept and manipulate unencrypted data traffic. WPA3 introduces Wi-Fi Enhanced Open, which is a much stronger security measure.

Wi-Fi Enhanced Open:

Automatically encrypts user traffic, even on open networks.

Prevents attackers from stealing login credentials, payment details, or private messages.

Uses individualized data encryption, meaning every connection is protected even without a password.

While it doesn’t completely eliminate risks, it significantly improves privacy and security for public Wi-Fi users.

Easier setup for smart home and IoT devices (Wi-Fi Easy Connect)

With traditional Wi-Fi, connecting devices without screens (such as smart locks or speakers) often involves complex setup procedures. WPA3’s Wi-Fi Easy Connect aims to simplify this by allowing users to:

Scan a QR code on the device or router to connect securely.

Use NFC pairing instead of entering passwords manually.

This feature reduces human error and enhances security by eliminating common setup vulnerabilities when connecting.

Is WPA3 better than WPA2?

The simple answer is a resounding “yes”, WPA3 is a major improvement over WPA2, but it doesn’t make Wi-Fi networks invincible and there are still some potential weaknesses.

Stronger security, but not perfect

While WPA3 addresses many of the weaknesses found in WPA2, it does not make Wi-Fi networks invulnerable. Hackers are always developing new techniques to try and get ahead and expose security flaws. WPA3 adds stronger encryption but it does not prevent other security risks like [phishing](https://www.malwarebytes.com/phishing) or [malware attacks](https://www.malwarebytes.com/malware) – that is not the purpose of the encryption.

One of the main improvements in WPA3 is Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), which makes it far more difficult for attackers to guess passwords using brute force methods. However, if a hacker gains direct access to a router’s administrative panel, they can still change network settings or even disable security features. You should create strong passwords for routers and ensure that [firmware](https://www.malwarebytes.com/cybersecurity/computer/what-is-firmware) updates are installed regularly.

Does WPA3 affect speed?

For most modern routers and devices, WPA3 encryption has minimal impact on performance. However, older routers or low-power IoT devices may experience slight slowdowns due to increased encryption processing.

WPA3 security uses more advanced encryption methods such as 128-bit encryption for personal networks and 192-bit encryption for enterprise environments. While these enhance security, they do not significantly affect [bandwidth](https://www.malwarebytes.com/what-is-bandwidth) or latency. Any potential slowdown is usually unnoticeable, unless a network is already suffering from outdated hardware or weak signal strength.

That said, some older routers and low-power IoT devices may struggle with WPA3’s stronger encryption requirements, resulting in minor performance reductions. Users experiencing connection issues may need to update their router’s firmware or enable WPA3/WPA2 mixed mode to ensure compatibility with older devices.

Device and router compatibility challenges

Not all existing routers and devices support WPA3, meaning that some users may need to upgrade hardware or enable mixed-mode settings to ensure everything works smoothly.

Many routers manufactured before 2018 do not support WPA3 unless they have received firmware updates from their manufacturers. However, not all router brands provide long-term support for older models. Some users may decide that they need to purchase a new WPA3-compatible router.

Most modern smartphones, laptops, and game consoles support WPA3, but older devices may struggle to connect to WPA3-only networks.

For users with a mix of new and old devices, enabling WPA3/WPA2 mixed mode on the router allows both WPA3-compatible and WPA2-only devices to coexist on the same network. However, using mixed mode comes with reduced security as the network is still in-part susceptible to WPA2’s weaknesses.

How to enable WPA3 on your router

Enabling WPA3 on a compatible router is a straightforward process. Most modern routers have WPA3 options available in their settings, but some may need firmware updates before the option appears.

How to check if your router supports WPA3

Before enabling WPA3, it is important to confirm whether your router supports the feature. This can be done in a few ways:

Check the router’s model specifications on the manufacturer’s website.

Log into the router’s admin panel and browse the security settings to see if WPA3 is available.

Look for firmware updates that mention WPA3 support, as some older routers have received updates to enable the feature.

Step-by-step guide to enabling WPA3

Log into your router’s admin panel (usually by entering 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in a web browser).

Go to the Wi-Fi settings or options menu and locate the wireless security options.

Select WPA3-Personal or WPA3-Enterprise, depending on your network type.

If using older devices, enable WPA3/WPA2 mixed mode to allow both WPA3 and WPA2 connections.

Save the settings and restart your router to apply the changes.

Most routers follow this process, but you may need to refer to manufacturer manuals if you find that you have issues.

What if some devices don’t support WPA3?

Even after enabling WPA3, some older devices may still be unable to connect. In these cases, users have a few options including a mixed mode that can incorporate WPA2 and WPA3 standards.

For networks with older devices that must remain connected, enabling WPA3/WPA2 mixed mode allows them to continue working. However, this option weakens overall security, as WPA2’s vulnerabilities still exist.

Another option is to create a separate WPA2-only network for legacy devices while keeping the main network WPA3-exclusive. This helps isolate older or less secure devices, reducing the risk of network-wide attacks.

Will my devices work with WPA3?

Not all devices are WPA3-compatible so checking whether your hardware supports the new security standard is essential before making the switch. Most hardware and devices manufactured since 2018 will support WPA3.

Which devices already support WPA3?

The generations of modern devices released after 2018 that support WPA3 includes:

Smartphones (iPhone XR and later, Samsung Galaxy S10 and later, Google Pixel 3 and later).

Laptops and desktops (Windows 10/11 devices with recent Wi-Fi adapters, macOS 10.15+).

Gaming consoles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, newer gaming PCs).

Smart home devices (latest smart speakers, security cameras, and home automation systems).

How to check if your device can connect to WPA3

To determine if a device supports WPA3, there are a few ways to check. This information should always be in the product manual, but if you don’t have this (or just don’t want to find it):

Go to Wi-Fi settings and check if WPA3 appears as an option under security settings.

Check the manufacturer’s website for WPA3 compatibility details.

If using a laptop or PC, update Wi-Fi drivers to ensure WPA3 support is enabled.

Backward compatibility issues and solutions

Some older devices cannot recognize WPA3-only networks, which may cause connectivity issues. If a device fails to connect, users should try enabling WPA3/WPA2 mixed mode to allow both old and new devices to connect, which at least means some devices benefit from the protection. If connection issues continue, they may consider upgrading the device or using a separate WPA2 network for legacy hardware, though this is not an efficient way of doing things.

How do I know if my Wi-Fi is WPA2 or WPA3?

You can check your Wi-Fi security type in your router settings or on your device’s Wi-Fi details. On a phone or laptop, go to the Wi-Fi network properties and look for WPA2 or WPA3 under security type. If your router supports WPA3. In rare cases, you may need to enable it manually in the settings.

How does WPA3 improve security?

WPA3 makes Wi-Fi more secure by using stronger encryption as well as better password protection and forward secrecy. It prevents hackers from guessing passwords and encrypts public Wi-Fi connections to keep your data private.

What are the disadvantages of WPA3?

Not all older routers and devices support WPA3. Some devices may struggle to connect if a network is WPA3-only. WPA3’s stronger encryption can slightly increase processing demand on low-power devices, though most modern hardware handles it without issues.