Microsoft announced that Windows 10, version 2004 comes with support for Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3 for gigabit speeds and better performance, as well as for a more secure wireless network connection.
The Windows 10 May 2020 Update was released today by Microsoft, as part of a gradual rollout process to users around the world.
“Windows 10 (Version 2004) supports Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3,” says Microsoft. “Wi-Fi 6 gives you better wireless coverage and performance with added security. WPA3 provides improved Wi-Fi security using the latest standard.”
Connect to faster and more secure Wi-Fi networks
To connect to wireless networks that use Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3, you will need a router with support for both Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3, a wireless network adapter with Wi-Fi 6 support, and Windows 10 2004 installed on computer .
To check and make sure you have the latest updates for Windows 10 and that the Update , you should click on the Start button, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on the Check for updates button.
You can see if your router supports Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3 by checking the documentation or the router manufacturer's website.
"You can also check if your router supports Wi-Fi 6 by opening the Command Prompt and then typing the command netsh wlan show driver. Look next to Supported Radio Types and see if it includes 802.11ax," Microsoft explained.
To see if you're connected to a Wi-Fi 6 network:
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
- Select the Wi-Fi network icon on the right side of the taskbar , and then select Properties under the Wi-Fi network name.
- On the Wi-Fi network screen, under Properties, look at the value next to Protocol. It will say Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) if you're connected to a Wi-Fi 6 network.
To see if you're connected using WPA3 security:
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
- Select the Wi-Fi network icon on the right side of the taskbar, and then select Properties under the Wi-Fi network name.
- On the Wi-Fi network screen, under Properties, look at the value next to Security type. It will include WPA3 if you are connected to a network using WPA3 encryption for security.
Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3
Wi-Fi 6 (Wifi 6) is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard and comes with several improvements, including, but not limited to, higher data rates, lower latency, increased capacity, better performance in environments with many connected devices, and improved power efficiency.
WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is a security standard and user authentication technology that the Wi-Fi Alliance developed to address the security shortcomings of WPA2 and to better secure wireless computer networks.
WPA3 was announced in January 2018, three months after security researcher Mathy Vanhoef disclosed the KRACK vulnerability affecting the WPA2 WiFi protocol used by billions of devices.
The standard was later released in June 2018 with more robust password-based authentication and the equivalent of 192-bit cryptographic strength for enterprise solutions.
A year later, in April 2019, security researchers Mathy Vanhoef and Eyal Ronen discovered a collection of new WPA3 security issues known collectively as Dragonblood that allow attackers to “crack” Wi-Fi network passwords, access encrypted network exchanged between connected devices, and steal sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, emails , and more.
After the bugs were revealed, the Wi-Fi Alliance said in a press release that “these issues can be mitigated through software updates without any impact on the ability of devices to work well together. There is no indication that these vulnerabilities have been exploited, and affected device manufacturers have already begun developing patches to resolve the issue.”
Affected vendors were also notified of the WPA3 vulnerabilities by the WiFi Alliance, CERT/CC, and researchers.
