How to Secure Private 5G Mobile Networks

5G networks are the next step in the growth of mobile communications. Data and voice communications have become basic functions in the current networked society, with 5G creating new use cases for industries and consumers by improving quality and usability. Furthermore, the development of 5G networks is establishing completely new business areas, while making interactions with billions of mobile devices seamless.

To enable that, 5G networks feature security controls that address many threats that affect 4G, 3G, and 2G networks. These security controls include enhanced subscriber identity protection, mutual authentication capabilities, and additional security mechanisms. 

These security controls not only demonstrate their effectiveness in various industries but also prove valuable when developing a real money casino app for Australian players who have a strong inclination towards mobile gaming. With the advent of 5G technology, the mobile market is presented with an unprecedented opportunity to enhance service quality and elevate network security measures. By incorporating these robust security controls into the development process, the casino app can ensure a safe and secure environment for Australian players, safeguarding their sensitive information and providing them with a seamless and trustworthy gaming experience. Moreover, the advanced capabilities of 5G offer the potential for faster and more reliable connections, reducing latency and enhancing overall performance, further reinforcing the app’s ability to deliver a top-notch gaming experience while maintaining stringent security standards.

5G networks also provide preventative measures that limit the impact of known threats, although the rise of new network technologies is giving rise to new threats that the industry must manage. So, how secure are 5G mobile networks, and what are some of the challenges present?

The rise of network security

5G networks are closing mobile security gaps that have been present in past technologies. These innovations include enhanced secure roaming, cryptography, and effective measures for securing signals between multiple mobile networks. With this technology, the identity of future mobile devices will only be encrypted before transmission to eliminate attacks like IMSI catchers.

The main difference between 5G networks and their predecessors is that it’s likely to be presented as a modular system where structures and services with diverse characteristics can be simultaneously implemented. In the future, users will be able to easily acquire geographical 5G licenses, which can help industries to develop separate virtual networks in public infrastructures. These virtual networks can be built with regard to high security.

Privacy Concerns in 5G Networks

From the consumers’ perspective, privacy challenges are centered around identity, location tracking, and other personal data. While the 4G network technology covers a wide coverage area as the signal is broadcasted from one cell tower, 5G networks have a small coverage area and its signal doesn’t penetrate walls as well as 4G. As such, 5G networks require small antennas, and their base stations can be placed indoors and outdoors.

The knowledge about the antenna or cell tower that a mobile user is using to communicate can reveal useful information about the location of the user. Every time a consumer connects to a 5G cell tower, the mobile network provider can pinpoint their location and the building they’re in. Unfortunately, threats like semantic information attacks often target the users’ location data and can be leaked through access point selection present in 5G mobile networks. 

Privacy solutions for 5G networks

The architecture of 5G networks should feature privacy-by-design approaches that are privacy-preserving and service-oriented. Mobile operators must adopt a cloud-based, hybrid approach to store sensitive data locally and less essential data on the cloud. That gives operators more control and access to data and they can choose who to share it with.

Location-based privacy calls for anonymity-based methods and systems where the user’s true identity remains hidden. Messages also need to be encrypted before being sent to a service provider using obfuscation techniques that reduce the quality of location information to protect the user’s privacy.