Special Section on Recent Advances in Security and Privacy for 6G Networks

The emergence of new disruptive technologies is paving the way towards shaping the upcoming sixth generation (6G) of wireless networks, which are envisioned to enable a large number of innovative applications over a ubiquitous, secure, unified, self-sustainable, and fully intelligent platform. These technologies include but are not limited to, virtual/augmented/mixed reality services, haptics, flying vehicles, brain-machine interface, and telepresence, to name a few. The successful operation of their associated functionalities is subject to meeting stringent network requirements, such as extremely high data rates, ultra-low latency, low complexity, uniquely small-sized designs, and high energy and spectral efficiencies. Therefore, the evolution of 6G networks will be accompanied by diverse novel technological trends, including artificial intelligence, data mining, cloud and edge computing, wireless mobile caching, network slicing, network function virtualization, as well as centralized and decentralized deep learning. While 6G wireless paradigms are envisaged to support the realization of self sustaining, self optimized networks with personalized user experience, privacy and security remain a predominant concern due to the centralized and decentralized data exchange, storage, and process, needed for the successful operation of 6G networks.