Context-Aware Security for 6G Wireless: The Role of Physical Layer Security

Sixth generation systems are expected to face new security challenges, while opening up new frontiers toward context awareness in the wireless edge. The workhorse behind this projected technological leap will be a whole new set of sensing capabilities predicted for 6G devices, in addition to edge and device embedded intelligence. The combination of these enhanced traits can give rise to a new breed of adaptive and context-aware security protocols, following the quality of security (QoSec) paradigm. In this framework, physical layer security solutions emerge as competitive candidates for low-complexity, low-delay, low-footprint, adaptive, flexible, and context-aware security schemes, leveraging the physical layer and introducing security controls across all layers for the first time.