5G and security --- Interesting question. On one hand, the greater bandwidth of 5G opens space for stronger attacks (since the load of trash traffic that a hijacked device, now connected to 5G, will be bigger). On the other hand, the bandwidth of the targets (and DDoS-mitigation services they rent) will also increase with time. So it is cat-and-mouse.

Bigger risk with 5G might be its virtualisation: to make it less dependent of handful of specialised suppliers of telecom equipment (Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia), industry is developing options to do network operations and data processing in a cloud, rather than at the 'ends' (dedicated equipment). This will allow usage of simpler, off-the-shelf telecom equipment from various vendors at the ends, and connecting that to the virtual 5G processing in the cloud (hosted by Azure of Microsoft, or other dedicated cloud providers). This means relying telecom communications more on the general software and cloud than before - possibly opening that element of the network to cyberattacks as well. This is a topic of research currently.

Greater concern may be not related to 5G itself (or 6G in future), but the environment it creates: connecting billions of smart devices and environments to operate in real-time (major benefit of 5G is actually not the bandwidth, but lower latency of data transfer which enables real-time remote controls; and ability to connect many more devices). This leads to (even) greater reliance on connected things and systems in various segments of the society - greater value of the assets, and more vulnerabilities (if IoT and connected systems remain generally very vulnerable).

Source author: Vladimir Radunovic vladar@diplomacy.edu