Which version of Wi-Fi Protected Access became a requirement for certification in 2006?

The requirement for Wi-Fi Protected Access to be certified in 2006 was indeed WPA2. This version brought significant improvements over its predecessor, WPA, by introducing stronger security protocols and encryption methods. WPA2 utilizes the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption, which provides a much higher level of security compared to the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) used in the original WPA.

WPA2 also mandates the use of robust security mechanisms, which were necessary to protect wireless communications against various attacks that were common by that time. As a result, it became critical for devices and networks to adopt WPA2 to ensure a secure wireless environment.

WEP, which predates both WPA and WPA2, was deemed insecure and is no longer considered a viable security protocol, while WPA3, which is a more recent standard, did not become available until later. Therefore, understanding the evolution of these protocols highlights why WPA2's adoption became a standard requirement for certification in 2006.