33 series - Security

Description

The 33 series covers security.

Mobile telecommunication systems are vulnerable to many different security threats, such as eavesdropping. To deal with those threats, UMTS includes a number of security features such as user data confidentiality. The specifications group the different security features into the following categories, shown in the diagram:

• Network access security: This provides users with secure access to 3G services. The security features include user identity confidentiality, mutual authentication of the USIM and its home network, and secure exchange of information between the ME and the serving network.
• Network domain security: This allows network nodes to exchange information securely. The security features are important for communication between different networks (for example, the home and serving networks), but can also be used for communication between different nodes in the same network.
• Application domain security: This allows the user's application to communicate securely with the service provider, for example by application-layer authentication and ciphering.
• User domain security: This prevents unauthorised access to the UICC and the ME.

The specifications also cover the lawful interception of a user's communications by a law enforcement agency.

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