Cipher Sleuths: Hands-On with AKMs, Crypto Suites, and Wi-Fi Security in WPA3, 6E & 7 | PHX 26

Wi-Fi 7 rewrites the rules of Wi-Fi cryptography - shifting how endpoints authenticate, associate, and roam. Join Jennifer (JJ) Minella and friends for a fast-paced, hands-on deep dive into the evolving world of Wi-Fi security. You’ll explore how modern authentication key management (AKMs), cipher suites, and cryptographic algorithms work together (and sometimes don’t) across WPA3, 6E, and 7.

Labs and content for exploring, explaining, and demystifying:

• Security advertisements in RSN, RSNX, and other IEs
• The latest WPA3 updates
• Authentication and Key Management (AKM) suites  
• PMK generation, validation, and key exchanges in the 4-way handshake
• Cipher suites, cryptographic algorithms, and integrity protocols (CCMP, GCMP, BIP)
• Keys in Beacon Protection, WPA3-SAE, PMF, and Fast Transition (11r/FT)
• Cipher updates from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7 for Open/Enhanced Open, Personal, and Enterprise

Includes 7 guided labs and real-world roaming tests across Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.

Students will be given instructions for downloading Wi-Fi Explorer Pro and Wireshark for beacon and packet analysis during labs. No prior pcap knowledge required.

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