4G 'inherently less secure' than 3G
The UK will soon become the third largest 4G market in Europe, with nearly 8 million people connected, but with growing 4G adoption there are greater risks to privacy and personal data than ever before, experts warn.
A major new threat to mobile users comes from the switch to IP (Internet Protocol), according to security firm Cloudmark. 4G mobile networks are all-IP, whereas 3G networks are a combination of IP and mobile signalling protocols (SS7).
IP is much more open and well-known than the more obscure mobile protocols of the past, and has been successfully exploited by hackers for many years, opening up a number of potential threats.
