What is WPA encription? Wireless Protected Access, or WPA, encryption takes the WEP standard two steps further. Most wireless networks now rely on it, and hackers have predictably devised tools to help crack it. WPA passwords can be from 8-32 characters. This password is encrypted to create another password for the router. The front door password will be changed periodically. Both passwords will be needed at the same time to gainaccess, yet anyone cracking the front door passwordwill start a timer, which can be manually defined.