What is WEP in the context of Wi-Fi?

WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, which was introduced as a security protocol for wireless networks. Its primary goal was to provide a level of security and privacy comparable to what is typically found in wired networks, hence the term "equivalent." WEP uses encryption to protect data transmitted over the airwaves, aiming to safeguard against unauthorized access and eavesdropping.

In terms of its implementation, WEP uses a method called the RC4 stream cipher for encryption, and it often requires a shared key for authentication and data integrity. However, despite its initial intention to offer protection, WEP has several inherent weaknesses that have made it largely obsolete today. Over time, vulnerabilities in WEP have been discovered, leading to the development of stronger protocols like WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2, which offer enhanced security features and improved encryption methods.

The other choices presented do not accurately reflect what WEP stands for; for instance, Wireless Encryption Protocol, Wi-Fi Encryption Policy, and Wireless Energy Protocol do not correspond to the recognized terminology or function associated with WEP in the context of wireless networking.