Is 5G less secure than WiFi?

5G is the fifth generation of cellular network technology. It’s transmitted wirelessly as radio waves via 5G cell towers to cover an area. It provides faster data speeds, lower latency and increased device connectivity than the previous 4G/LTE network. 5G’s features significantly improve applications like online gaming, the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge computing.

WiFi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without physical cables. It uses radio waves to transmit data across a network between devices and a wireless router connected to an ISP-provided modem. Because of its limited range, WiFi is suitable for indoor environments like homes and offices.

With 5G and WiFi connecting more devices to the internet, the potential for vulnerabilities and online threats also increases. Both technologies handle vast quantities of sensitive data and serve critical applications, necessitating extensive security measures to prevent cyberattacks.

5G security involves the set of technologies, protocols and standards that protect the 5G cellular technology, its users and the systems it supports.

5G introduces a more complex architecture than the previous generations to accommodate more use cases, requiring a comprehensive security framework. Some of the key features of 5G security include:

5G implements a stronger 256-bit cryptographic algorithm for encryption to secure data transmissions across the network. The encryption algorithms ensure traffic is more complicated to intercept, protecting users’ identities and data. The network also separates security keys to improve data security and make communication resistant to attacks by quantum computers.

5G introduces an authentication protocol called 5G Authentication and Key Agreement (5G AKA) that verifies the identities of users, devices and network elements using randomized encryption protocols. It also supports multiple authentication methods, such as pre-shared keys, certificates and tokens, which differ from 4G/LTE’s reliance on a physical SIM card.

5G’s authentication protocols help prevent cyber attacks, including subscriber impersonation and man-in-the-middle attacks.

5G provides the Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) that secures communications when a user roams between the user’s subscribed network and the visited network (where the user roams). SEPP handles authentication, encryption and data exchange when a user changes networks. This mechanism ensures data integrity and privacy while roaming, preventing illegal access and safeguarding sensitive information.

Network slicing enables 5G networks to create multiple virtual networks (slices) on the same physical infrastructure. It ensures that if a security breach or malware attack occurs in one slice, it can be isolated and contained without compromising the other slices.

Each slice can be configured with security protocols and functions to meet its requirements. This functionality enables flexible security measures tailored to the requirements of various services, including cellular network users, home internet users, IoT applications and crucial communications.

WiFi security refers to protecting devices and networks connected to a wireless setup. WiFi technologies have evolved to introduce security features that protect against unauthorized access and data interception by cyber attackers.

The key security features of WiFi networks include:

WiFi networks implement encryption protocols created by the WiFi Alliance to ensure wireless security. WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access 2) and WPA3 are the most widely used encryption protocols.

1. WPA2:
   Introduced in 2004, WPA2 is an improved version of earlier WPA and WEP protocols. It is widely adopted and has been the standard for secure WiFi networks. It uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) for data encryption and the Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP) to verify the integrity of encrypted packages.

   WPA2 has two modes: WPA-Personal and WPA-Enterprise. Personal serves for home and office networks and relies on pre-shared keys known to the access point and client device. Enterprise uses a more advanced Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), an authentication server and individual credentials for each user or device. It is more suitable for business environments.

2. WPA3:
   Released in 2018, WPA3 is the most secure encryption protocol. It offers a 192-bit encryption algorithm and uses a protocol called Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE). SAE provides better protection against offline attacks, password-guessing attempts and a secure key-exchange method.

   WPA3 protects your network against dictionary and brute force attacks, where hackers employ trial and error to decipher your WiFi passwords, login credentials and encryption keys.

Password protection is the most basic form of access control for WiFi networks. Using a complex, unique password with a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols helps to avoid guessable passwords and prevents your WiFi network from being compromised.

Some WiFi networks allow segmentation to create separate or guest networks with specific security requirements. This feature ensures that the primary network remains secure and private while guests have controlled access. It is mainly used within Local Area Networks (LANs) and affects users and devices within the WiFi network’s range.

This access control feature in WiFi routers determines whether a device can access a network. It adds a layer of security by only allowing devices with specific MAC (Media Access Control) addresses to connect to the network. Enabling this feature on a router creates an allow list and a deny list of addresses that can connect to the network.

Implementing these WiFi security features can significantly enhance WiFi security by protecting unauthorized access and data integrity over the network.

Both 5G and WiFi have unique security features and face specific vulnerabilities. Comparing their security levels is essential to understanding their relative strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s compare the two technologies based on the following security features:

Encryption
5G uses a 256-bit encryption algorithm, while WiFi uses WPA2 with AES encryption and WPA3 uses 192-bit encryption. The 256-bit encryption provides more robust encryption because it increases the number of possible keys, making it harder for hackers to brute force the correct key.

Authentication mechanism
5G and WiFi use different authentication mechanisms to secure the networks. 5G’s authentication employs the 5G AKA protocol, preshared keys, certificates, tokens and physical SIM cards.

On the other hand, WiFi uses password-based authentication, with WPA3 implementing advanced SAE protocols to prevent dictionary and password-guessing attacks. WiFi authentication depends more on the specific network configuration and security protocols implemented.

Network slicing and segmentation
WiFi segmentation involves subdividing the main network into subnets that serve different users or devices. The segmentation is lower-level and based on SSIDs (Set Service Identifiers) and virtual LANs, aiming to control traffic flow and reduce the cyberattack surface.

5G network slicing involves a deeper isolation level as each network is customized for a broader range of applications. These use cases may include mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communications or massive machine-type communications, which require higher degrees of isolation, customization and security monitoring.

Although both networks have advanced security features, they are vulnerable to network attacks. Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to intercept data, gain access and disrupt services. Potential vulnerabilities that can affect them include:

• Piggybacking: If your network has a weak password or is not password-protected, a hacker can gain access and use it. Piggybacking can result in network congestion or malicious attacks.
• Packet-sniffing: Hackers can intercept the data transmitted over your WiFi network if it lacks up-to-date encryption standards.
• Denial-of-service attacks: Hackers can disrupt users’ connections to a WiFi network by flooding the network with traffic or exploiting vulnerabilities in the WiFi protocols until regular traffic cannot be transmitted.
• Evil Twin Attacks: Hackers create malicious access points that impersonate legitimate ones, tricking users into connecting to them, stealing personal data or injecting malware and viruses.

• Denial-of-service attacks: A hacker can use a device that impersonates International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers and poses as a 5G cell tower to lure other 5G devices to connect to them. Once the devices connect to the hacker, they lose access to the actual network.
• Mobile Network Mapping: Hackers can use data-sniffing devices to identify data sent through 5G signals and determine the type of devices connected to the network.
• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: A flaw in 5G’s AKA authentication protocol can allow a hacker to reuse authentication keys from previous sessions to create a false cell tower and conduct cyberattacks.
• DNS spoofing: Hackers using IMSI impersonation methods can change the IP of requested DNS servers and redirect domain requests to malicious websites they control.
• Network slicing isolation failure: Misconfiguration or vulnerabilities during network slicing can allow hackers to breach the process and access the network slices.