This Wireless Communications Security book summarizes key aspects related to radio access network security solutions and protection against malicious attempts. As such a large number of services depend on the Internet and its increasingly important wireless access methods now and in the future, proper shielding is of the utmost importance. Along with the popularization of wireless communications systems such as Wi‐Fi and cellular networks, the utilization of the services often takes place via wireless equipment such as smartphones and laptops supporting short and long range radio access technologies. Threats against these services and devices are increasing, one of the motivations of the attackers being the exploitation of user credentials and other secrets to achieve monetary benefits. There are also plenty of other reasons for criminals to attack wireless systems which thus require increasingly sophisticated protection methods by users, operators, service providers, equipment manufacturers, standardization bodies and other stakeholders.

Along with the overall development of IT and communications technologies, the environment has changed drastically over the years. In the 1980s, threats against mobile communications were merely related to the cloning of a user’s telephone number to make free phone calls and eavesdropping on voice calls on the unprotected radio interface. From the experiences with the relatively poorly protected first‐generation mobile networks, modern wireless communications systems have gradually taken into account security threats in a much more advanced way while the attacks are becoming more sophisticated and involve more diversified motivations such as deliberate destruction of the services and ransom‐type threats. In addition to all these dangers against end‐users, security breaches against the operators, service providers and other stakeholder are on the rise, too. In other words, we are entering a cyber‐world, and the communications services are an elemental part of this new era.

The Internet has such an integral role in our daily life that the consequences of a major breakdown in its services would result in chaos. Proper shielding against malicious attempts requires a complete and updated cyber‐security to protect the essential functions of societies such as bank institutes, energy distribution and telecommunications infrastructures. The trend related to the Internet of Things (IoT), with estimations of tens of billions of devices being taken into use within a short time period, means that the environment is becoming even more challenging due to the huge proportion of the cheaper IoT devices that may often lack their own protection mechanisms. These innocent‐looking always‐connected devices such as intelligent household appliances – if deployed and set up improperly – may expose doors deeper into the home network, its services and information containers, and open security holes even further into the business networks. This is one of the key areas in modern wireless security preparation.

As my good friend Alfredo so well summarized, the Internet can be compared to nuclear power; it is highly useful while under control, but as soon as security threats are present, it may lead to major disaster. Without doubt, proper protection is thus essential. This book presents the solutions and challenges of wireless security by summarizing typical, currently utilized services and solutions, and paints the picture for the future by presenting novelty solutions such as advanced mobile subscription management concepts. I hope you find the contents interesting and relevant in your work and studies and obtain an overview on both the established and yet‐to‐be‐formed solutions of the field. In addition to this book, the contents are available in eBook format, and you can find additional information and updates from the topics at www.tlt.fi, which complement the overall picture of wireless security. As has been the case with my previous books published by Wiley, I would be glad to receive your valuable feedback about this Wireless Communications Security book directly via my email address: [email protected].