A Novel Variable Pseudonym Scheme for Preserving Privacy User Location in 5G Networks

Abstract

Due to the development in 5G mobile communications, user privacy becomes the main challenge, especially with the multiplicity of services and applications that can be accessed. Location privacy is related to the user privacy in terms of the possibility of tracking and unwanted advertisements, as well as the possibility of exposure to suspicious activities and terrorist attacks based on the user location. Accordingly, previous mobile systems use pseudonyms instead of a permanent identity to preserving the user’s location privacy in mobile networks, by what is known as the Cellular Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (C-RNTIs). The C-RNTI protects the user privacy relatively, but it faces some problems due to the clear text of the user in CRNI exchange, which will make the user easily trackable by man-in-the-middle attack. This article aims at proposing a new algorithm that improves the user’s location privacy and enhances the capabilities of the 5G infrastructure in terms of confidentiality and privacy. The idea is based on the use of a novel variable pseudonym (V-RNTI) algorithm that acts as a radio channel identifier for the user, which improves the allocation of pseudonyms to identify users. The proposed algorithm uses different V-RNTI values by the UE and can be changed frequently to improve the pseudonym allocation procedure. This approach can be implemented in 3GPP standard architecture by upgrading UEs and eNB by minor modifications. During this study, the proposed 5G V-RNTI authentication protocol model was built. And then, the automated analysis of the protocol model is performed by using ProVerif Model Checker. The results showed that the model works well without any noticeable problems.