As 5G technologies mature, cyber and physical domains will merge, giving rise to a hybrid threat landscape. In other words, cyberattacks that happen in cyberspace will have major ramifications in the physical space. As 5G technologies mature, cyber and physical domains will merge, giving rise to a hybrid threat landscape. In other words, cyberattacks that happen in cyberspace will have major ramifications in the physical space. (Photo: kinwun/Adobe Stock)

With 5G being the fifth generation of wireless technology, we are now at the cusp of another digital revolution and the stakes couldn't be higher. While 5G promises to transform communications, spur innovation and accelerate economic growth, it can pose a significant cyber risk, not only to individuals and businesses but also to nations. Let's explore some potentially major cyber risks.

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Larger attack surface

5G significantly differs from its predecessors (2G, 3G, 4G) in the sense that it's built on virtualization technologies like network slicing, which creates virtual networks on top of a shared physical infrastructure. Such virtual networks and software-defined network partitions create more entry points for malicious actors. For example, attackers can compromise a network slice to monopolize computing resources such as crypto mining, or they can cause insufficient resources for critical services running on other virtual partitions and disrupt the availability of services.

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