  Despite the numerous pompous statements regarding 5G, it is indisputable that
5G creates a radical shift in telecommunications. The main reason is that 5G is
an enabler of numerous applications we have long envisioned and either
simulated or implemented in test environments, partially or on a smaller scale.
5G will soon unlock the potential of smart cities, industry 4.0, and IoT, to
name a few. However, a crucial question is how much we can trust this
technology. Since this technology will soon become the core infrastructure for
all of the above, it is critical to understand the fundamental security
mechanisms that comprise this technology and the guarantees they provide to
assess the potential risks we are exposed to. This work follows a non-technical
yet bottom-up approach to introduce the reader to the core security mechanisms
and establish a baseline for the security of 5G, to demystify the principal
notions and processes. Based on the above, we streamline future directions and
highlight possible threats.
