5G and Cybersecurity: How Faster Internet Brings New Risk

By: Nicko Cajes; Northern Bukidnon State College, Philippines

Abstract

The emergence of 5G have given an opportunity for a faster connectivity, reduced latency, and improved efficiency of the network. However, together with the great opportunity that it provides, novel cybersecurity issues have also been introduced with the help of it, such as the increased attack surfaces, IoT devices vulnerabilities, and the challenges in protecting the data. The effects of 5G networks for cybersecurity will be discussed in this article, along with the risks they present and mitigation strategies against cyber-attacks.

Introduction

The introduction of 5G technology have revolutionized how people interact and communicate in the modern world with the utilization of digital services. 5G technology have offered ultra-fast network speeds with latency that is low together with its provided advancement in smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial autonomation [1]. However, with a lot of benefits that it provides, the risks that it brings in cybersecurity have also grown [2]. This article will examine how 5G networks can expose novel threats, together with outlining the preventive measures in order to effectively enhance the security in the evolving landscape of technology.

Cybersecurity Challenges of 5G

The advancement of technology has provided a lot of helpful things to the users especially in the emergence of 5G technology. In accordance with that, challenges that it brings also poses a significant threat. The following are the cybersecurity challenges in 5G networks.

Expanded Attack Surface: 5G networks have covered a wide area of connected device, this means that in 5G ecosystem a wide range of attack surfaces can be observed. Furthermore, in contrast to earlier generations, 5G is highly dependent on cloud infrastructures and Software Defined Networking (SDN), making it vulnerable to internet threats including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, data breaches, and system vulnerabilities [3].

IoT Vulnerabilities: One of the facilitators of the wide adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) is the 5G networks, as with the help of it, connecting billions of IoT devices worldwide have been possible [4]. The inherent characteristic of IoT devices which is its lacking robust security features have made them to be the easy targets of cybercriminals [5]. By effectively compromising IoT devices, cybercriminals can make them infected and use them in various ways such as in a botnet attacks, espionage, or collection of data without authorization.

Network Slicing Security: Network slicing is the process by which 5G devices enable the creation of a virtual network inside a single physical infrastructure. Although this method can increase efficiency, it also has security risks. A breach in one network slice could potentially compromise the other network slice as well, leading to data leaks or illegal access [6].

Threats to Critical Infrastructure: Cyberattacks aimed at critical services like healthcare, transportation, and energy grids may suffer significant consequences if 5G is integrated across these networks. That is why a focused attack on critical infrastructures could potentially prevent or slow down emergency services, banking operations, or utilities for the public [7].

Supply Chain Risks: The chain of supply globally by the 5G hardware and software have involved multiple vendors, which can increase the risk of a compromise component [8]. In this way, cybercriminals can embed vulnerabilities in hardware or software when the manufacturing process is made, this can lead to a backdoor access and breaches on security in future.

Strategies to Mitigate 5G Cybersecurity Risks

Due to the wide are of vulnerabilities that 5G security provides, strategies to defend against those are being developed to reduce the cybersecurity risks, in this way being a victim of the attacks in this area can be lessen.

Regulatory Frameworks and Standards: Two of the most important actions that need that must be put into practice are the implementation of standards and regulatory frameworks. Government and regulatory bodies may employ this to enforce stricter cybersecurity guidelines to govern the implementation of 5G networks. In order to achieve this, telecom companies and cybersecurity specialists may collaborate together to create a safe framework [4].

Security Design for IoT Devices: Due to the inherent vulnerabilities of IoT devices, manufacturers could incorporate features for security in IoT from their phases in creating it especially on the design phase. With the help of timely updates on software, robust authentication methods, and an intrusion detection system can aid in defending against this risk [9].

Zero-Trust Security Model: The implementation of zero-trust principle and authority could also be adapted especially by organizations to help prevent being a victim of the cyber-attack [10]. This is effective as in zero-trust network, the data access is granted based on a verification protocol that is strict. Additionally, with the help of monitoring continuously and threat intelligence, detection and prevention of cyber-threats can be possible [10].

Collaboration and Threat Intelligence Sharing: With the help of real-time sharing of information about the emerging threats, resilience in cybersecurity can be enhanced. By having a coordination among the governments, telecom providers, and agencies in cybersecurity, combatting towards the evolving cyber threats can be done effectively [11].

Conclusion

The emergence of 5G networks have provided a huge advancement due to its fast speed and connectivity. However, it also introduces challenges in cybersecurity which appears to be complex. As the evolution of technology continues, security measures can be applied proactively, this includes the regulatory compliance, and efforts in collaboration. This becomes important to effectively safeguard 5G networks against sophisticated attacks. By addressing the vulnerabilities that ca be found in the devices and strengthening the security approach in frameworks, harnessing the huge potential of 5G can be possible together with the minimization of the risks associated to it.

References

1. Smys, S., Wang, H., & Basar, A. (2021). 5G network simulation in smart cities using neural network algorithm. Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 3(01), 43-52.
2. Humayun, M., Hamid, B., Jhanjhi, N. Z., Suseendran, G., & Talib, M. N. (2021, August). 5G network security issues, challenges, opportunities and future directions: A survey. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1979, No. 1, p. 012037). IOP Publishing.
3. Bellamkonda, S. (2021). Strengthening Cybersecurity in 5G Networks: Threats, Challenges, and Strategic Solutions. Journal of Computational Analysis and Applications, 29(6).
4. Bellamkonda, S. (2021). Strengthening Cybersecurity in 5G Networks: Threats, Challenges, and Strategic Solutions. Journal of Computational Analysis and Applications, 29(6).
5. Cook, J., Rehman, S. U., & Khan, M. A. (2023). Security and privacy for low power iot devices on 5g and beyond networks: Challenges and future directions. IEEE Access, 11, 39295-39317.
6. Knieps, G. (2024). Internet of Things, critical infrastructures, and the governance of cybersecurity in 5G network slicing. Telecommunications Policy, 48(10), 102867.
7. Bellamkonda, S. (2021). Strengthening Cybersecurity in 5G Networks: Threats, Challenges, and Strategic Solutions. Journal of Computational Analysis and Applications, 29(6).
8. Qose, S., & Zoltán, R. (2024, January). Supply Chain in the Context of 5G Technology Security and Legal Aspects. In 2024 IEEE 22nd World Symposium on Applied Machine Intelligence and Informatics (SAMI) (pp. 000143-000148). IEEE.
9. Altulaihan, E., Almaiah, M. A., & Aljughaiman, A. (2022). Cybersecurity threats, countermeasures and mitigation techniques on the IoT: Future research directions. Electronics, 11(20), 3330.
10. Lyu, M., & Farooq, J. (2024). Zero Trust in 5G Networks: Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities. 2024 Resilience Week (RWS), 1-8.
11. Alanazi, M. N. (2023). 5G Security Threat Landscape, AI and Blockchain. Wireless Personal Communications, 133(3), 1467-1482.
12. Rahaman, M., Lin, C. Y., Pappachan, P., Gupta, B. B., & Hsu, C. H. (2024). Privacy-centric AI and IoT solutions for smart rural farm monitoring and control. Sensors, 24(13), 4157.
13. Wijayanto, H., Andara, M. J., Wiraguna, D., Agitha, N., & Rahaman, M. (2024). Blockchain-based Supply Chain Solution Using IPFS and QR Technology for Traditional Weave in West Nusa Tenggara. JURNAL INFOTEL, 16(4), 740-757.
14. Lv, L., Wu, Z., Zhang, L., Gupta, B. B., & Tian, Z. (2022). An edge-AI based forecasting approach for improving smart microgrid efficiency. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 18(11), 7946-7954.
15. Mirsadeghi, F., Rafsanjani, M. K., & Gupta, B. B. (2021). A trust infrastructure based authentication method for clustered vehicular ad hoc networks. Peer-to-Peer Networking and Applications, 14, 2537-2553.
16. Chokkappagari R. (2024) 5G With IOT Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Threats, Insights2Techinfo, pp.1

Cite As

Cajes N. (2025) 5G and Cybersecurity: How Faster Internet Brings New Risk, Insights2Techinfo, pp.1

822600cookie-check5G and Cybersecurity: How Faster Internet Brings New Riskyes