Quantum-resilient security for 6G networks: a comprehensive survey on challenges, solutions, and research opportunities

With the rapid development of information and communication technology, 6G is emerging as a next-generation communication network that enables higher speeds, lower latency, large-scale connectivity, and space and maritime communications. Building on the advancements of 5G, 6G aims to solve various security issues by integrating advanced technologies such as quantum cryptography and blockchain. However, current 6G networks threaten new technologies and existing security threats. For example, security threats like eavesdropping and data interception occur with large-scale device connectivity. In addition, the development of quantum computing, a new technology, may pose a serious threat to existing encryption systems, posing a security threat. In addition, Terahertz (THz) communication, the core technology of 6G communication, may cause various security threats, such as jamming and hijacking attacks. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of threats and solutions to ensure the security and privacy of 6G networks. Current advances in 6G focus on basic security services such as confidentiality, integrity, availability, privacy, and non-repudiation but are ill-prepared for future technical requirements. This paper explores advanced cryptographic techniques, including quantum cryptography, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, to address this gap. This paper investigated a layered security framework that leverages these technologies. Finally, we present open research challenges and future research directions for improving 6G network security. This paper presents a new security perspective to address 6G security issues and provides a technical foundation for securing 6G networks, the next generation.