--- title: WPA2 and WPA3: How Wi-Fi Is Locked | High Desert Internet url: https://hdiss.net/glossary/wpa2-wpa3/ business: High Desert Internet Services (HDISS) phone: 775-575-9593, 775-391-5660 email: info@hdiss.net mailing_address: Home base: 200 S Virginia St, Suite 760, Reno NV 89501 (dispatch office, not a walk-in store). Mail: Billing Dept., PO Box 11353, Reno NV 89510 hours: Office open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, seven days a week. Network watched around the clock. type: Fixed wireless internet service provider (homes and small businesses), web hosting, customer email, domain registration service_area: Northern Nevada - Washoe, Lyon, Storey, Churchill and Douglas counties and Carson City; availability is checked address by address (line of sight to a tower) plans: Bronze $50/mo up to 500 Mbps down, up to 200 Mbps up; Silver $75/mo up to 800 down, up to 200 up; Gold $99/mo up to 1 Gig down, up to 200 up; ask about the up to 1 Gig / 1 Gig ultra-low-latency service no_online_purchase: true (check your address or call; existing customers pay at https://www2.fernley.net/hdiss/onlinepay/paymentform.cfm) since: 2002 --- - [Home](https://hdiss.net/) - [Glossary](https://hdiss.net/glossary/) - WPA2 and WPA3 # WPA2 and WPA3 WPA3 is the newer Wi-Fi lock and WPA2 is the older one most routers still support. Choose WPA3 if all your devices can use it, or WPA2 and WPA3 together if not. A radio tower at sunset. Stock photo: Adobe Stock. [Photo credits](https://hdiss.net/photo-credits/) ## What is WPA2 and WPA3? The Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry group behind Wi-Fi, says WPA3 is mandatory for Wi-Fi devices it tests, that WPA3-Personal gives increased protection against password guessing, and that WPA3 networks require Protected Management Frames. CISA's home network guidance recommends WPA3 Personal with AES. WPA2 came before and is still widespread. Your router offers a mode setting, such as WPA2, WPA2/WPA3 mixed or WPA3. An open network that asks for no key has no encryption at all. Older, weaker methods called WEP and the first WPA are obsolete, and a router offering only those should be replaced. Check the security mode on the router's wireless page. ## Why does it matter on a fixed wireless connection? Older gadgets such as cameras, plugs and printers often do not understand WPA3 and fail to join. A mixed mode lets them connect while newer phones use WPA3. Wi-Fi encryption protects the air inside your house, between your devices and the router. It does not protect anything on the outdoor radio link, which is the provider's concern. See [SSID](https://hdiss.net/glossary/ssid/) for the network name and [guest networks and Wi-Fi passwords](https://hdiss.net/guides/guest-networks-and-wifi-passwords/). ## What should I do about it? Pick a long password, not a word, and share it only with people you trust. Put visitors and smart-home gadgets on a guest network where your router allows it. Never keep the factory password. The steps are in [secure your home network](https://hdiss.net/guides/secure-your-home-network/). If a device will not join after you switch modes, use mixed mode for a while and check whether the device has an update. Call 775-575-9593 if you cannot reach your router settings. Rename the network at the same time, since a default name can reveal the router model, as covered in [SSID](https://hdiss.net/glossary/ssid/). ### Sources - [wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/security](https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/security) (Wi-Fi Alliance security overview, read 2026-10-15) - [cisa.gov/news-events/news/home-network-security](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/home-network-security) (CISA, archived page; read 2026-10-15) ### Talk to a person - Call [775-575-9593](tel:7755759593) [775-391-5660](tel:7753915660) Open 9-5 every day - Email [info@hdiss.net](mailto:info@hdiss.net) [Check my address](https://hdiss.net/check-availability/#check) ### Related terms - [SSID (network name)](https://hdiss.net/glossary/ssid/) - [Router](https://hdiss.net/glossary/router/) - [Firewall](https://hdiss.net/glossary/firewall/) - [Wi-Fi 6E](https://hdiss.net/glossary/wifi-6e/) - [Secure your home network: a ten-minute checklist](https://hdiss.net/guides/secure-your-home-network/) Local since 2002 Fixed wireless from towers in Northern Nevada. Three plans, no contracts, local support, 4.8 on Google from 36 reviews. [About High Desert](https://hdiss.net/about/)