WiFi实际上是不同技术的集合，它们协同工作以无线方式将数据位从一个设备传输到另一个设备。在配置构成这些无线连接的各个部分时，您有很多选择。
其中一个选择是使用哪种加密标准，其中一些比其他更快。那么哪种WiFi加密标准最适合速度，为什么它更快？
这是您的 WiFi 加密(Are Your WiFi Encryption)选项
在撰写本文时， WiFi(WiFi)安全标准只有三种选择： WEP、WPA和WPA2。
WEP 或无线等效隐私(Wireless Equivalent Privacy )是最古老且最不安全的WiFi加密标准。它使用TKIP（临时密钥完整性协议(Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)）进行加密。WEP是最慢的标准，自 2004 年起已正式放弃。它的安全弱点很容易被黑客理解，并且很容易被攻破。
WPA 或WiFi 保护访问是对(WiFi Protected Access)WEP的权宜之计安全升级，提供更好的安全性。它仍然使用TKIP，并且在今天也相对容易地被破解。有一种更新的、更安全的加密标准，称为AES（高级加密标准(Advanced Encryption Standard)），它也可以与WPA配对。这是可取的，目前AES仍被认为是黄金标准。
WPA 2是当前可用的最新标准，并且专门使用AES。这是迄今为止最安全的标准，但裂缝开始显现。所以它不会永远存在。但是，目前我们强烈建议在任何情况下都使用WPA 2。
如果您想要WEP、WPA、WP2、AES和TKIP的更详细分类，您可以阅读WPA2、WPA、WEP、AES 和 TKIP 之间的区别是什么？(What is the Difference between WPA2, WPA, WEP, AES, and TKIP?)
WPA 2 是最快的选择
毫无疑问，使用AES加密的(AES)WPA 2是目前所有可用选项中最快的选项。一个例外是针对WPA设计但后来获得WPA 2功能的旧路由器。使用此标准可能会更慢，因为板载硬件不是为它设计的。
如果您的路由器出厂时标配WPA 2，那么这是您应该考虑的唯一选择。除非您的网络上有无法访问WPA 2网络的设备。即使这样，升级该设备也比冒着旧标准的安全性受损的风险要好。
WiFi不是那么安全
话虽如此，即使是WPA 2也开始成为一种负担。已经发现了各种漏洞，例如KRACK。值得庆幸的是，这些漏洞对于大规模攻击并不实用，但在某些情况下可以针对特定的本地网络加以利用。
WPA 2最大的安全问题来自公共WiFi热点。由于WiFi密码也是加密密钥，任何可以访问同一WiFi网络的人都可以看到彼此的网络流量。这就是为什么HTTPS和私有VPN（虚拟专用网络(Virtual Private Network)）在您使用公共WiFi时必不可少的原因。
WPA 3 即将到来
2020年7 月， (July)WiFi的最新安全标准WPA 3强制要求所有新设备获得WiFi认证。WPA 3使用更好的个性化加密方法。关闭了WPA 2中发现的主要漏洞，它显着增强了公共WiFi热点的安全性。
在纸面上，WPA 3应该比WPA 2更安全且性能更好。然而，尽管已发布，但其上没有任何WPA 2设备的(WPA 2)WPA 3网络成为常态还需要数年时间。
这将是一个漫长的过渡期，特别是因为人们正在购买智能设备，例如电视和 IP 摄像机，这些设备不像智能手机或笔记本电脑那样经常更换。由于WPA 3在许多情况下需要更新的硬件，因此这些设备将保留在WPA 2上，直到它们被替换。
更新的路由器可能已准备好进行WPA 3更新，因此请与制造商确认是否适合您的。
WiFi 信号(WiFi Signal)和带宽(Bandwidth)对于速度而言更为重要
虽然看起来简单或不加密会加快WiFi性能，但AES加密对WiFi速度的影响并不值得注意。使用正确的WiFi(WiFi)频段并优化网络条件以提高性能更为重要。
因此，与其担心您的WiFi加密标准可能会减慢速度，不如检查以下因素：
- 你有足够的信号强度吗？
- 您(Are)是否使用信号强度最好的最快频段？
- 是否(Are)有任何干扰源或许多其他WiFi网络？
如果您想提高WiFi性能，请查看如何在 Android 上增强 WiFi 信号以获得更快的互联网(How To Boost The WiFi Signal On Android For Faster Internet)。这些技巧比更改加密类型更能提高您的WiFi性能！(WiFi)
最后一点，请记住，设备的WiFi连接速度与服务提供商的互联网连接速度存在差异。如果您正在进行互联网速度测试，结果只会与您的互联网服务一样快。
如果您想测试本地WiFi网络的速度，您将需要不同类型的工具，例如LAN Speed Test。如果您想了解有关如何提高本地网络传输速度的更多提示，请前往为什么我的网络数据传输如此缓慢？(Why Is My Network Data Transfer So Slow?)
如果您想要真正的速度 – 使用以太网(Speed – Use Ethernet)
如果性能对您来说最重要，请考虑完全放弃WiFi并改用有线以太网(Ethernet)连接。有线连接不受导致 WiFi 性能波动的因素的影响，可以为您提供快速连接的全部优势。假设您的以太网(Ethernet)卡、电缆和路由器都支持给定的速度。
强烈考虑使用VPN
正如我们上面所说，WPA 2是每个人都可以访问的最快、最安全的WiFi加密标准。(WiFi)至少在WPA 3变得更加普及之前。但是，WPA 2太不安全，无法在公共热点中单独使用，并且在某些情况下，即使在私人家庭网络上也无法提供足够的保护。
因此，使用良好的商业VPN是一个好主意。VPN实际上可能会对您的互联网性能产生很小的负面影响，但 VPN 的附加功能、优势和安全性非常值得(VPN)这个小小的权衡。
VPN意味着，即使您的WiFi安全(WiFi)性被破解，您的数据仍将受到不同加密层的保护。您还可以从您自己的互联网服务提供商那里获得隐私，因为即使您的数据在离开您的网络并进入互联网时也会被加密。如果您正在考虑使用VPN，请查看我们的最佳虚拟专用网络比较(Best Virtual Private Network comparison)。
有了所有这些，您就可以不再担心哪种WiFi加密类型最适合速度。将其设置为WPA 2并忘记它，直到WPA 3可用。
Best WiFi Encryption for Speed and Why
WiFi is actually a collection of different technologies working together to get bits of data wirelessly from one device to another. You have quite a few options when it comes to configuring the various bits and pieces that constitute these wireless connections.
One of these choices is which encryption standard to use, some of which are faster than others. So which WiFi encryption standard is best for speed and why is it faster?
Here Are Your WiFi Encryption Options
At the time of writing, there are only three choices when it comes to WiFi security standards: WEP, WPA and WPA2.
WEP or Wireless Equivalent Privacy is the oldest and least secure WiFi encryption standard. It uses TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) for encryption. WEP is the slowest standard and has been officially abandoned as of 2004. It’s security weaknesses are well understood by hackers and it’s broken into easily.
WPA or WiFi Protected Access was a stopgap security upgrade to WEP, providing better security. It still uses TKIP and is also broken into with relative ease today. There is a newer, much more secure encryption standard known as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) which can also be paired with WPA. This is preferable and AES is still considered the gold standard at the moment.
WPA 2 is the newest currently available standard and makes exclusive use of AES. It is by far the most secure standard, but cracks are starting to show. So it won’t be around forever. For now, however, we strongly recommend using WPA 2 in every situation.
If you’d like a more detailed breakdown of WEP, WPA, WP2, AES and TKIP you can read What is the Difference between WPA2, WPA, WEP, AES, and TKIP?
WPA 2 Is the Fastest Option
Without any doubt, WPA 2 using AES encryption is the fastest option of all the ones that are available at the moment. The one exception to this is in the case of older routers that were designed for WPA but then gained WPA 2 capabilities later. They might be slower using this standard because the onboard hardware was not designed for it.
If your router came from the factory with WPA 2 as standard, then it’s the only choice you should consider. Unless there’s a device on your network which can’t access WPA 2 networks. Even then, it’s better to upgrade that device than risk the compromised security of older standards.
WiFi Isn’t That Secure
That being said, even WPA 2 is starting to become a liability. Various exploits have been found, such as KRACK. Thankfully these exploits aren’t practical for mass attacks, but can be leveraged against specific local networks in some cases.
The biggest security problem with WPA 2 comes from public WiFi hotspots. Since the WiFi passcode is also the encryption key, anyone who has access to the same WiFi network can see each other’s network traffic. This is why HTTPS and a private VPN (Virtual Private Network) are essential whenever you’re using public WiFi.
WPA 3 Is Coming
In July of 2020 WPA 3, the latest security standard for WiFi, became mandatory in all new devices in order for them to get WiFi certification. WPA 3 uses better, individualized encryption methods. Closing the door on the major vulnerabilities found in WPA 2, it significantly enhances the safety of public WiFi hotspots.
On paper, WPA 3 should be both more secure and perform better than WPA 2. However, despite being released, it will be years before WPA 3 networks that don’t have any WPA 2 devices on them become the norm.
There’s going to be a long transitional period, especially since people are buying smart devices such as TVs and IP cameras that don’t get replaced as often as smartphones or laptops. Since WPA 3 requires newer hardware in many cases, those devices will remain on WPA 2 until they are replaced.
More recent routers may be ready for a WPA 3 update, so do check with the manufacturer if it’s possible for yours.
WiFi Signal and Bandwidth Is Much More Important for Speed
While it may seem that simple or no encryption would speed things up in terms of WiFi performance, the impact of AES encryption on WiFi speed isn’t noteworthy. It’s far more important to use the correct WiFi band and to optimize network conditions to improve performance.
So instead of being concerned that that your WiFi encryption standard might be slowing things down, you’re better off checking the following factors:
- Do you have enough signal strength?
- Are you using the fastest band with good signal strength?
- Are there any sources of interference or many other WiFi networks?
If you want to boost your WiFi performance, have a look at How To Boost The WiFi Signal On Android For Faster Internet. Those tips will do more for your WiFi performance than changing encryption types!
On a final note, remember that there’s a difference in the speed of the WiFi connection to your device and the speed of the internet connection from your service provider. If you’re doing an internet speed test, the result will only be as fast as your internet service.
If you want to test the speed of the local WiFi network, you’ll need a different type of tool such as LAN Speed Test. If you want more tips on how to improve local network transfer speeds, head over to Why Is My Network Data Transfer So Slow?
If You Want Real Speed – Use Ethernet
If performance is the most important thing to you, consider ditching WiFi completely and switching to a wired Ethernet connection instead. Wired connections are not subject to the factors that make WiFi performance fluctuate and can give you the full benefit of a fast connection. Assuming that your Ethernet card, cable and router all support a given speed.
Strongly Consider Using a VPN
As we’ve said above, WPA 2 is the fastest and most secure WiFi encryption standard that everyone has access to. At least until WPA 3 becomes more widespread. However, WPA 2 is too insecure to use by itself in public hotspots and in some cases won’t provide adequate protection even on private home networks.
So it’s a great idea to make use of a good commercial VPN. A VPN may actually have a small negative effect on your internet performance, but the added features, benefits and security of a VPN are well worth this small tradeoff.
A VPN means that, even if your WiFi security is cracked, your data will still be protected in a different layer of encryption. You also have the benefit of privacy from your own internet service provider, since your data is encrypted even when leaving your network and entering the internet. If you’re considering a VPN, have a look at our Best Virtual Private Network comparison.
With all of that out of the way, you can stop worrying about which WiFi encryption type is best for speed. Set it to WPA 2 and forget about it until WPA 3 becomes available.
