Cleartext (Plain Text)

Cleartext (or plaintext) refers to information that is unencrypted and directly readable. Transmitting credentials, subscriber identifiers, or sensitive content in cleartext over untrusted networks is a baseline failure of modern security practice. Telecom-specific examples include legacy SS7, plaintext SNMPv1/v2c, Telnet, and unencrypted SIP, all to be avoided or wrapped in TLS/IPsec.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSignalingIdentity and Subscriber

Cleartext (Plain Text) in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Signaling protocols carry the control-plane messages that set up calls, register subscribers and route SMS. SS7, Diameter, GTP-C and SIP are the four dominant families, and interconnect exposure of any of them is treated by GSMA as top-tier telecom risk.

To place Cleartext (Plain Text) in the wider telecom-security picture, review BTS Impersonation (Fake BTS), E911, OFCS, Rogue Base Station (Fake BTS), SMS Pumping and UMTS — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.