5G vs. Wi-Fi: A Comparative Analysis of Security and Throughput Performance
Introduction In this blog post we compare the security and throughput performance of 5G cellular to that of WiFi. This work is part of the research IOActive published in a recent whitepaper (https://bit.ly/ioa-report-wifi-5g), which was commissioned by Dell. We used a Dell Latitude 7340 laptop as an end-user wireless device, a Panda Wireless® PAU06 as a WiFi access point, and an Ettus Research™ Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP™) B210 as a 5G base station to simulate a typical standalone 5G configuration and three typical WiFi network…
WiFi and 5G: Security and Performance Characteristics Whitepaper
IOActive compared the security and performance of the WiFi and 5G wireless protocols by simulating several different network types and reproducing attacks from current academic research in a Dell-commissioned study. In total, 536 hours of testing was performed between January and February 2024 comparing each technologies’ susceptibility to five categories of attack: user tracking, sensitive data interception, user impersonation, network impersonation, and denial of service. IOActive concluded that a typical standalone 5G network is more resilient against the five categories of attack than a typical WiFi network. Attacks against a 5G…
Recent and Upcoming Security Trends in Cloud Low-Level Hardware Devices: A survey
The rapid evolution of cloud infrastructures has introduced complex security challenges, particularly concerning all of the processing devices and peripheral components that underpin modern data centers. Recognizing the critical need for robust and consistent cloud security standards, technology firms, developers, and cybersecurity experts established the Open Compute Project Security Appraisal Framework and Enablement (OCP S.A.F.E.) Program. At the 2024 OCP Regional Summit in Lisbon, I was joined by my colleague Alfredo Pironti, Director of Services at IOActive, to present a deep dive into the security of cloud infrastructures, the threats…
The Security Imperative in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and everyday life, driving innovations once relegated to the realm of science fiction into modern reality. As AI technologies grow more integral to complex systems like autonomous vehicles, healthcare diagnostics, and automated financial trading platforms, the imperative for robust security measures increases exponentially. Securing AI is not only about safeguarding data but also about ensuring the core systems — in particular, the trained models that really put the “intelligence” in AI — function as intended without malicious interference. Historical lessons from earlier technologies offer…
5 Signs You’re Ready for a Red Team
We often talk about security as a continuum; a journey toward greater maturity and increased capability. Along that path, the practice of red team testing serves as an important milestone, not just for the benefits it offers, but also for what participating in red teaming says about the state of security — overall posture, culture, commitment to continuous improvement — in any organization. Red team tests remain one of the most effective ways to probe defenses and identify vulnerabilities. And unlike traditional penetration tests, red team…
Transportation Electrification Cybersecurity Threatscape
World-Wide Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Trends The global push to meet rising EV adoption with sufficient EV smart charger infrastructure is astoundingly challenging. Bloomberg estimates the global charging infrastructure market opportunity to be $1.9T between 2022 and 2050. That opportunity will be seized upon by a host of organizations large and small, public and private. From EV fleet depots to fast charging stations along highways, parking garages, smart chargers for employees, and home chargers,…
Field-Programmable Chips (FPGAs) in Critical Applications – What are the Risks?
What is an FPGA? Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are a type of Integrated Circuit (IC) that can be programmed or reprogrammed after manufacturing. They consist of an array of logic blocks and interconnects that can be configured to perform various digital functions. FPGAs are commonly used in applications where flexibility, speed, and parallel processing capabilities are required, such as telecommunications, automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. FPGAs are often found in products that are low volume or demand short turnaround time because they can be purchased off the shelf and programmed…
Evolving Cyber Threatscape: What’s Ahead and How to Defend
The digital world is a dangerous place. And by all accounts, it’s not getting a whole lot better. Damages from cybercrime will top a staggering $8 trillion this year, up from an already troubling $1 trillion just five years ago and rocketing toward $14 trillion by 2028. Supply chains are becoming juicier targets, vulnerabilities are proliferating, and criminals with nation-state support are growing more active and more sophisticated. Ransomware, cryptojacking, cloud compromises, and AI-powered shenanigans are all on a hockey-stick growth trajectory. Looking ahead, there are few sure…
Always Updated Awards 2024 Blog
We are excited to announce that IOActive received multiple prestigious awards wins this year! Keep this blog bookmarked to always stay up-to-date on the company’s accomplishments throughout 2024. Last updated May 9, 2024 IOActive was honored for its ability to maximize security investments and enhance clients’ overall security posture and business resilience. Unlike many organizations that default to defensive strategies, we at IOActive go beyond standard penetration testing to provide clients with red and purple team services that exceed typical assessments. We prioritize a comprehensive understanding of cyber adversaries through…
Untested Is Untrusted: Penetration Tests and Red Teaming Key to Mature Security Strategy
Organizations need to know how well their defenses can withstand a targeted attack. Red team exercises and penetration tests fit the bill, but which is right for your organization? Information security at even well-defended enterprises is often a complex mesh of controls, policies, people, and point solutions dispersed across critical systems both inside and outside the corporate perimeter. Managing that murky situation can be challenging for security teams, many of whom are understaffed and forced to simply check as many of the boxes as they can on the organization’s framework…