WPS stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup, which is a network security standard that simplifies the process of connecting devices to a wireless network. It was created by Cisco and introduced in 2006. The point of the protocol is to allow home users who know little of wireless security and may be intimidated by the available security options to set up Wi-Fi Protected Access, as well as making it easy to add new devices to an existing network without entering long passphrases.
WPS is a feature supplied with many routers. It is designed to make the process of connecting to a secure wireless network easier and faster. The WPS button on a router allows wireless devices to connect easily to a home WiFi network without having to constantly remember a password. The WPS protocol consists of a series of EAP message exchanges that are triggered by a user action, relying on an exchange of descriptive information that should precede that users action.
WPS is used by devices made by HP, Brother, and Canon for their printers. It is also used to connect certain Wi-Fi devices such as security cameras to the Wi-Fi network without using any password. To set up a WPS connection, users need to verify that the router and the internet capable device support the WPS feature, and then follow the steps provided by the device manufacturer.
It is important to note that WPS only handles the sending of connection data between a router and a client device, and it doesn’t handle the Wi-Fi connection itself. The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced the WPS standard in 2006, and, in time, all manufacturers of Wi-Fi equipment have adopted it. As a result, WPS is now a basic feature present on all wireless devices.
