When 3G mobile network was introduced, it grabbed a lot of attention. But as soon as 4G came, it snatched away the limelight from 3G by offering greater speed and efficiency. 4G took the mobile network market by a storm and it is prevalent till today.

Times have changed so drastically that no longer is internet connectivity a luxury, but a necessity. A mobile is considered useless if it does not have internet as fast as the speed of light. 4G connectivity has surely been a revolution in the field of mobile networks by providing higher bandwidth, reliable connectivity and enhanced security. However, it comes with its own set of flaws.

A study conducted by researchers from Purdue University and the University of Iowa has revealed new vulnerabilities in the core protocols that power 4G LTE mobile networks worldwide. Mobile networks are a part of a nation’s critical infrastructure. They impact not just the society, but also an individual on a personal level by improving the quality of life by enabling various applications.

Various procedures that are a part of LTE, like attach, detach, handover, paging and calls are affected by these vulnerabilities. Researchers claim that these vulnerabilities allow an attacker to connect to 4G LTE networks without legitimate credentials. This means, an attacker is able to connect to a 4G device using someone else’s identity and send/receive messages on behalf of the other person, spoof locations or disconnect the device from the network completely.

These bugs pose a major threat in the real world as they could be advantageous for criminals to hide serious crimes by creating false alibi. For example, a person committing crime in London could make it look like his device was connected with an American LTE network, creating a believable, yet false alibi for himself.

It is critical to safeguard 4G enabled devices from these vulnerabilities. Adoption of two-factor authentication would help in fighting these bugs to a great extent. To avoid such malicious incidences, ACS Guaranty provides stern customised solutions. The company is a pioneer in the world of cyber-security, providing cyber resilient tools that protect devices from being hacked or misused.

ACS Guaranty claims to provide a wide range of guaranteed solutions and products that not only predict and prevent from risk, but also protect from unauthorised access.