Opportunistic Wireless Encryption
Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) is a Wi-Fi standard which ensures that communication between a public hotspot and end devices is protected from other end devices. In contrast to conventional public hotspots, the data is transmitted in encrypted form. OWE was introduced by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2018 as part of the Wi-Fi Certified Enhanced Open program.[1]
OWE is an extension to IEEE 802.11.[2] It is an encryption technique similar to that of Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) and is specified by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in RFC 8110 with devices certified as Wi-Fi Certified Enhanced Open by the Wi-Fi Alliance.[3][4]
With a network without a password, each WPA3 device that connects to it will still have its connection encrypted. OWE does encryption, not authentication; Evil twin (wireless networks) attack protection requires either WPA3-Personal or WPA3-Enterprise.[5]
Unlike conventional Wi-Fi, it provides "Individualized Data Protection" such that data traffic between a client and access point is "individualized." Other clients can still sniff and record this traffic, but they can't decrypt it.
"OWE is a means of adding encryption to open networks...OWE only protects against passive attacks."[6]
Opportunistic Wireless Encryption is a Wi-Fi Enhanced Open authentication mode, as a part of Wi-Fi Protected Access 3.[7] OWE performs an unauthenticated Diffie–Hellman (DH) key exchange at association time.[7]
For the wireless client to know the WLAN supports OWE, it must receive a Probe Response from the wireless access point in response to its Probe Request. OWE still uses 802.11 Open System Authentication, then the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral exchange occurs in the Association process. After Association is successful the 4-way handshake can occur, and from then on data frames are encrypted.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ Elkasri, Lee (15 August 2023). "Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE): Everything You Need to Know to Secure Your Guest Wifi". https://conticomp.com/secure-guest-wifi-with-opportunistic-wireless-encryption/.
- ↑ Chen, Dave (December 4, 2018). "Opportunistic Wireless Encryption…Um, What's That Again?". https://www.networkworld.com/article/966750/opportunistic-wireless-encryption-um-what-s-that-again.html.
- ↑ "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Enhanced Open™: Transparent Wi-Fi® protections without complexity | Wi-Fi Alliance". https://www.wi-fi.org/beacon/dan-harkins/wi-fi-certified-enhanced-open-transparent-wi-fi-protections-without-complexity.
- ↑ "WPA3: How and why the Wi-Fi standard matters". August 8, 2018. https://www.hpe.com/us/en/insights/articles/wpa3-how-and-why-the-wi-fi-standard-matters-1808.html.
- ↑ "Evil Twin Attack: Definition and How to Prevent It". Panda Security. 21 November 2023. https://www.pandasecurity.com/en/mediacenter/evil-twin-attack/.
- ↑ Ryan, Gabriel (20 December 2019). "War Never Changes: Attacks Against WPA3’s Enhanced Open — Part 2: Understanding OWE" (in en). Medium. https://posts.specterops.io/war-never-changes-attacks-against-wpa3s-enhanced-open-part-2-understanding-owe-90fdc29126a1.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mostafa, Ahmad (2022). "What WPA3 Brings to Wi-Fi with Focus on SAE and OWE: A Review and Explanation of Basic Operations". Durham, NC: Certified Wireless Network Professionals. https://www.cwnp.com/uploads/what-wpa3-brings-to-wi-fi-focus-on-sae-and-owe-ahmed-mostafa-cwne-candidate-article-2022.pdf.
- ↑ "Wi-Fi Security Enhancements: Part 2 – Enhanced Open (OWE)" (in en). 5 August 2019. https://wificoops.com/2019/08/05/wi-fi-security-enhancements-part-2-enhanced-open-owe/.
Further reading
- "Opportunistic_Wireless_Encryption_Specification_v1.0_0". https://www.wi-fi.org/downloads-registered-guest/Opportunistic_Wireless_Encryption_Specification_v1.0_0.pdf/35331.
 |  |
