Malware

Malware is the umbrella term for malicious software designed to compromise, damage, or gain unauthorised access to systems. Categories include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, and bootkits. In telecom, malware on CPE feeds botnets such as Mirai, while malware on subscriber phones drives banking fraud and OTP interception.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkIdentity and SubscriberThreats and Attacks

Malware 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.

Subscriber identifiers (IMSI, SUPI, MSISDN, IMEI) anchor authentication, charging and lawful interception. Any protocol that leaks a permanent identifier is treated as a privacy defect, which is why 5G introduced SUCI concealment on the air interface.

To place Malware in the wider telecom-security picture, review Cell Phone (Mobile Phone), CPE, Firmware, IMEI, IRSF and Paging Attacks — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

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