The 6 VOIP security risks you should know about
Implementing a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) system in your home or business can
seem very attractive given the cheap rates and bandwidth efficiency, but many users
are unaware of the security risk posed by unsecured Internet telephony. If you intend
to communicate sensitive information over VOIP, securing your connection is vital,
although it is still important take precautions even if you only plan on using your
VOIP for domestic calls to friends and family, and here’s why.
Not all VoIP solutions are created equal. Cisco VoIP Business Solutions are all highly secure environments.
1. VOIP packet sniffing
Packet sniffing describes the process of analyzing the traffic passing through a
connection and, although all types of data transferal are vulnerable to packet
sniffing, it poses a particular privacy threat to VOIP as VOIP calls can be identified
and potentially accessed by a malicious user. This means that anyone able to gain
access to your network could eavesdrop and record your calls if they have the proper
equipment.
2. VOIP Denial of Service (DOS) attack
Denial of Service attacks have been used in various ways since the nineties to shut down websites and networks – sometimes unintentionally, but since the proliferation of Internet telephony, it too has become a target. DOS attacks basically consist of flooding a connection with so many requests that the connection slows and eventually shuts down. This can diminish call quality and reliability.
3. VOIP pharming
When you make a call with VOIP, a dialog between your machine and a domain-name system (DNS) server is opened. DNS servers translate the number you dialed into the IP address of the person you’re calling, but DNS can be hijacked and your calls could be redirect your call to somebody else, such as someone pretending to be your bank in order to find out your account details. Fortunately, due it’s difficulty to execute, pharming is quite uncommon.
4. Caller ID spoofing
When receiving VOIP calls, users should remember that – as with traditional telephones – the caller ID cannot always be trusted. As with VOIP pharming, particular care should be taken with calls appearing to come from banks and the like, to whom you may be asked to give sensitive information.
5. Viruses
It is extremely important for all computer users to protect their computers against viruses and malware. A virus can overload your computer or network and call quality is affected as a consequence.
6. Spam Over Internet Telephony (SPIT)
Most Internet users are familiar with email spam, but undesirable messages can be sent through VOIP technologies too, and can be prove just as irritating and dangerous as email spam.
Luckily, many measures against these types of threat can be implemented to protect your VOIP system relatively cheaply and easily, and some – such as anti-virus software and firewalls – should already be in place and may just need adjusting to protect your VOIP calls. Other measures such as password-protected protections, will be required by most service providers.
Provided by Jim Horton - North Star Strategic ITYour Denver source for IT computer support, network consulting and planning, voice over IP (VoIP) solutions, and so much more.
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