Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is a security protocol designed to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a level of security comparable to that of a wired network. It was introduced as part of the IEEE 802.11 standard to protect data transmitted over wireless connections. WEP uses encryption to secure data, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to access the network. Despite its initial purpose, WEP has significant vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. Over time, it has been largely replaced by more secure protocols, such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA2, which offer stronger encryption and better overall security for wireless networks.