EU sounds alarm on foreign interference in 5G networks
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European cybersecurity authorities warned Wednesday that state hacking groups are a major threat to the security of 5G networks, increasing pressure on telecom operators to take action against new risks linked to telecom suppliers like Chinese equipment maker Huawei.
In an EU risk assessment report prepared by the European Commission and national cybersecurity experts, officials said that 5G networks would rely more heavily on software and suppliers, and that the biggest threat came from state-backed hackers from non-EU countries with cyber offense programs.
The report said that 5G “will bring numerous new security challenges” and will “increase the number of attacks paths that could be exploited by threat actors, in particular non-EU states or state-backed actors.” It also warned telecom operators that procuring gear and services from vendors from such countries would increase the risk of getting hacked or spied on.
The assessment, drafted by the NIS Cooperation Group — which consists of national cybersecurity officials, the Commission and the EU’s cyber agency ENISA — argues telecom networks will be increasingly vulnerable to hackers, in part because they rely on more suppliers and more software.
