Chipsets for Access Points and Mobile Devices Support the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Third Generation of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA3) Designed for Enhanced Security in Public and Private Networks

Dubai, United arab Emirates, May 16, 2018:  Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), today announced that the industry’s newest Wi-Fi security protections will, moving forward, be applied across the Company’s portfolio of mobile and networking infrastructure products.

Qualcomm Technologies will support the Wi-Fi Alliance’s third generation security suite, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA3), their latest and most secure protocol that provides robust protection of user passwords and stronger privacy in both public and private Wi-Fi networks.

Qualcomm Technologies is demonstrating its industry leadership by announcing implementation of these advanced security features, including the recently launched 2x2 802.11ax-ready solution for client devices, the WCN3998, and IPQ807x AP platform.  

As the number of security threats and vulnerabilities continues to grow, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the level of sophistication and potential impact.

The recent KRACK (Key Reinstallation Attack) vulnerability bypassed the WPA2 network security protocol and put Wi-Fi users at risk, allowing potential attackers to access unencrypted network traffic and possibly steal sensitive information.

By aggressively closing known security holes and implementing WPA3 across its portfolio of mobile and networking infrastructure products, Qualcomm Technologies is ensuring its products support the newest security standard available.

The addition of robust WPA3 encryption in Qualcomm Technologies’ portfolio of mobile and networking infrastructure products is designed to provide a more seamless on-boarding experience of Wi-Fi devices and more secure wireless access, even when user Wi-Fi passwords fall short of common complexity recommendations.

Users will also be able to enjoy data privacy protections when using devices in public or open hotspots provided by Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE), which has the ease of use of open networks but provides more protection than the common usage of WPA2 with an openly shared password.

In addition, enhanced cryptography is designed to ensure strong security protections for networking technology used in government, medical and financial networks.  

“At Qualcomm Technologies, we’re committed to working closely with industry bodies like the Wi-Fi Alliance to develop security standards to best protect data traffic across networks and devices, especially as security threats and attacks continue to become increasingly sophisticated,” said Rahul Patel, senior vice president and general manager, connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

“By adopting the latest in encryption technology to protect Wi-Fi connected products from security attacks, Qualcomm Technologies helps customers build products that not only deliver the industry’s latest technologies to the market, but adopt the most advanced security standard available.” 

Qualcomm Technologies expects to incorporate WPA3 security features into chipsets in summer 2018 for mobile devices beginning with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 845 Mobile Platform and on all Wi-Fi networking infrastructure products.