Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

WPA2 includes a function that generates a 256-bit key based on a much shorter passphrase created by the administrator of the Wi-Fi network and the service set identifier (SSID) of the AP is used as a salt (random data) for the one-way hash function. Is this statement true or false?

1. True

2. False

The correct answer is: True

The statement is true. WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access II) utilizes a mechanism known as the Pairwise Master Key Generation, which incorporates a passphrase known to the administrator and the SSID of the access point (AP). In this context, the SSID acts as a salt, enhancing the security of the key generation process by introducing randomness. This is important because using a longer key strengthens the encryption framework, making it more difficult for unauthorized parties to decrypt the transmitted data. The process typically involves applying a hash function that combines the passphrase and the SSID to securely generate a 256-bit key. This design is fundamental to WPA2's ability to protect data integrity and confidentiality in wireless networks, making the statement accurate.