What does WPA2 utilize for encryption?

WPA2, or Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, primarily utilizes the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for encryption, as it provides a high level of security for wireless networks. AES is a robust and widely accepted encryption standard that has been adopted across various security protocols due to its strength against brute-force attacks. WPA2 mandates the use of AES in its Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP), which enhances both confidentiality and integrity of the data being transmitted over the network.

Although WPA2 initially included the option for TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) to accommodate legacy devices, the standard's primary focus is on AES encryption, which offers better security features and is designed to prevent various types of attacks that were possible under its predecessor, WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access).

The other options presented in the question do not relate directly to the encryption mechanisms used by WPA2. For instance, RC4 is an older stream cipher that has been found to have significant vulnerabilities and is not used in WPA2. NAT is a networking technique that allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address, and it does not provide encryption. Lastly, PKI is a framework used for managing digital certificates and encryption