An Overview of Security and Privacy Threats for Massive IoT Applications in the 6G Era

In recent years, global efforts have been directed toward defining the vision and research priorities for 6G mobile networks, expected to exceed the performance of 5G networks and effectively accommodate Internet of Everything (IoE) applications. Specifically, 6G networks are predicted to fulfill the demanding performance needs of emerging disruptive massive IoT applications that are beyond the capabilities of 5G due to its intrinsic constraints. Slated to be commercially available starting in 2030, 6G is set to support a wider array of applications by connecting hundreds of billions of IoT devices. However, the swift proliferation of 6G-enabled IoT devices and their escalating interconnections are likely to amplify the vulnerabilities in 6G-enabled massive IoT applications, leading to greater security and privacy concerns. Consequently, this paper provides a synopsis of the massive IoT applications projected for the 6G era that will enhance human life and outlines the potential security and privacy threats they face. The goal is to highlight critical security challenges that must be addressed to ensure that 6G-enabled massive IoT applications gain the trust of all key stakeholders and achieve their full potential.