The security protocols used to protect wireless networks are primarily:

• WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): The original protocol introduced in the late 1990s, now considered outdated and insecure due to vulnerabilities

• WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): Introduced in 2003 as an improvement over WEP, using dynamic keys and TKIP encryption to enhance security, but also now largely replaced due to security flaws

• WPA2: The most widely used protocol today, introduced in 2004, which uses AES encryption and CCMP for strong data protection and integrity

• WPA3: The latest and most secure protocol, released in 2018, offering stronger encryption (using SAE), improved authentication, protection against key reuse, and forward secrecy. WPA3 is considered the best current standard for wireless security, though not yet universally supported by all devices

In summary, the main security protocols for wireless networks are WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3, with WPA3 being the most advanced and secure option available today