What is WPA2 primarily characterized by?

WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) is primarily characterized by its mandatory use of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption. This requirement is a significant improvement over its predecessor, WPA, which could use the less secure Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) as an encryption method.

The use of AES in WPA2 provides a higher level of security because AES is a more robust encryption standard that's widely adopted and recognized for its strength against various types of attacks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has approved AES for use in federal applications, and its strength comes from the size of the encryption keys that can range from 128 bits to 256 bits, offering more security than the options available with TKIP.

By mandating AES, WPA2 ensures that all compliant devices use this stronger encryption method, helping to protect wireless communications from eavesdropping and unauthorized access. This focus on security through AES is what sets WPA2 apart in the landscape of wireless security protocols.