A terminal, including a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor. The program includes instructions to generate encrypted capability information of the terminal, receive pre-association index information that is related to the terminal and that is sent by an access point, where the pre-association index information is used by the access point to identify the terminal when no association has been established between the terminal and the access point, send the encrypted capability information of the terminal and an association request message to the access point, where the association request message comprises the pre-association index information, and receive an association response message that is sent by the access point according to capability information of the terminal and the pre-association index information, so that the terminal establishes an association with the access point.