Glossary » W

Wide Area Network. A group of LANs connected over a large geographical area. The Internet is probably the largest WAN in the world.

Originally a stamp, pressed into high-grade papers to mark them with a brand during manufacture. Now used as a term for printing a light background pattern or image on paper, with the main content overprinted on top. |end glossary

Wired Equivalent Privacy. A form of data encryption designed to protect wireless networks. Two key lengths can be used with the longer 128bit variety providing tougher encryption. WEP does have weaknesses and can be broken making WPA more secure.

A collective name for wireless Ethernet using 802.11x standards with x denoting the various alternatives such as a, b, g and n. 802.11b works at a speed of up to 11Mbit/sec and was the first standard to be ratified. 802.11b and g share the 2.4GHz band while 802.11a works at 5GHz. 802.11a and g are rated at 54Mbit/sec with turbo versions reaching 108 or 125Mbit/sec. 802.11n is yet to be ratified, but will operate at 125Mbit/sec. 802.11n also uses MiMo - multiple-input multiple-output - which allows for longer range and better quality signalling.

WiFi protected access. A temporary standard designed to fix the problems with WEP by offering improved data encryption techniques, user authentication and the ability to detect if keys have been tampered with.