4G? LTE? 3GPP? What Does This Meaaan?2 A lot of telecommunications terminology gets thrown around, but what does it actually mean? And why do we care about it as security professionals? I ask and no one understands.3 While terms like “3G,” “LTE,” and “packet core” may be in common use, it’s hard to understand what they mean in terms of attack surface or even as a consumer. Walking through each step of cellular evolution, I’ll explain some of the protocol and equipment changes that have modified how telephony works. In terms of core infrastructure attacks It’s fun to deceive when you know you can leave. But, you have to be wary4 because at each step in cellular evolution there have been additional techniques implemented to make networks more secure. The Night Was Alive/The Proposal, Titanic the Musical Mix Tape, Avenue Q I’m A Stranger Here Myself, One Touch of Venus The Steps of the Palace, Into the Woods