WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, is a security protocol designed to protect wireless networks. It was introduced in the late 1990s as part of the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless communication. WEP aims to provide a level of security comparable to that of wired networks by encrypting data transmitted over the air. Despite its initial purpose, WEP has significant vulnerabilities that make it relatively easy for attackers to breach. As a result, it has largely been replaced by more secure protocols like WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2, which offer stronger encryption and better overall security for wireless communications.