Is the network security key the same as the WiFi password? That Wi-Fi password is your network security key. This article will discuss the differences or similarities of network security keys or WiFi passwords and why is it important?
Is the Network Security Key the Same as the WiFi Password?
A network security key is a string of numbers and letters that allows you to connect to a WiFi network. So, the network security key is the same as the WiFi password. For example, if you connect to a WiFi network using your iPhone, the phone will prompt you to enter your WiFi password to join the network.
If you are using a laptop or desktop computer, the network security key can be in the wireless settings of your device and typically takes the form of “SSID-Password”. The SSID is another name for your WiFi network name.
The term password will be in this article to refer to the network security key even though it is sometimes called a passphrase, key, or string. So, the term password is because it is shorter and easier to type than the “network security key.”
The Differences Between a Network Security Key and a WiFi Password
A network security key is to protect access to the WiFi network from unauthorized devices. The WiFi password is the key or combination used by an authorized user (user-id) to access a WiFi network.
You can find out more about network security keys in my previous post about creating your WiFi network. That is, your authorized user-id may not have a network security key. In other words, you can’t connect to the WiFi network if your user id does not have a network security key.
Advantages
You may wonder why WiFi network administrators use network security keys instead of a simple WiFi password. Although there are several advantages to using a network security key over a simple password, there are two main advantages:
Using network security keys provides maximum protection for the WiFi network. Also, it is from unauthorized users.
The principle behind this is that no one can easily guess a random string of numbers and letters especially if the string is random and long enough. In other words, it would be very difficult for someone to guess the correct network security key.
Disadvantages
There are disadvantages to using a network security key. For example, it might be inconvenient for authorized users to remember their network security key(s). You can also find out more about the disadvantages of network security keys in my WiFi password article.
The encryption technology used to protect the WiFi network from unauthorized users can be another disadvantage. If this technology is not used correctly, it could allow the user’s system to be hacked.
Although it is possible to have multiple passwords, this can also be inconvenient. For example, if you have three different passwords for three different WiFi networks in your area, you will not be able to access any of these networks since you can only use one password at a time.
Conclusion
Network security keys are by WiFi network administrators to protect the WiFi network from unauthorized users. Also, the WiFi password is the key or password used by authorized users to access a WiFi network.