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

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

To place Malware in the wider telecom-security picture, review IRSF, Wangiri Fraud, CPE, Exfiltration, Firmware and MNO.

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