What characteristic of WEP encryption makes it less secure compared to newer protocols?

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption is considered less secure compared to newer protocols primarily because it can be easily cracked. This vulnerability is attributed to several factors, including the way it generates and manages keys. WEP utilizes a static key that does not change over time, which means that if an attacker captures enough data packets, they can analyze them and find the key used for encryption. Additionally, WEP employs weak initialization vectors (IVs), which can be reused frequently, further facilitating the cracking process.

In comparison, newer Wi-Fi encryption protocols like WPA2 use more sophisticated methods for key management and integrate stronger encryption algorithms, making them significantly more secure against unauthorized access and attacks. Therefore, the ease with which WEP can be compromised is a principal reason why it is not suitable for secure wireless communications in modern environments.

Other factors mentioned, such as the requirement for complex passwords or the use of symmetric keys, do not directly impact the fundamental weaknesses of WEP in the same way that its susceptibility to being easily cracked does.