The string of characters and digits that is entered into an AP and a client STA for WPA2 security and is 8 characters long is called a passphrase. A passphrase is a human-readable text that is used to generate a Pre-Shared Key (PSK) for WPA2-Personal security. A passphrase can be between 8 and 63 characters long and can include any ASCII character. The PSK is a 256-bit key that is derived from the passphrase using a hashing algorithm called PBKDF2. The PSK is used to encrypt and decrypt the data frames between the AP and the client STA. A MSK is a Master Session Key that is generated by an authentication server for WPA2-Enterprise security. A WEP key is a 40-bit or 104-bit key that is used for Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) security, which is deprecated and insecure. A PSK is not a string of characters and digits, but a binary key. References: [CWNP Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page 303; [CWNA: Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: ExamCWNA-109], page
293.