VoIP | WireChatter.com

Dan York gives a great Podcast (delivered here in a powerpoint presentation) about VoIP Security. It is an enjoyable anecdotal talk, where he sets up a story and tells the pitfalls that can begall an unsuspecting ‘sysadmin steve’ who inherits a VoIP system. Really, the intent here is that there are a number of potential security holes in VoIP that at the very least you need to be aware of. If your phone calls and what you say don’t need to be ‘private’ then you probably don’t need to worry too much!

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VoIP uses the Internet for sending and retrieving VoIP data. This makes it vulnerable to hackers. For individuals who use VoIP this may not be a problem, but businesses don’t want their information to leak. For this reason VoIP services are dedicated to making their service as secure as possible.

Hackers may ty to tap your call and retrieve all sorts of information. They can retrieve conversations, but also VoIP phone numbers or user identities. When they retrieve this information, they can use your VoIP to make calls themselves. Some hackers may even record your call and use your voice to make calls.

There are a few ways to avoid these security problems. The first is encryption. Encryption works in the same way as when sending credit card information. The data is sent over a safe connection. Another way of averting security issues is by separating VoIP data and other Internet data by using a so-called VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network). The call quality may suffer under these measures. But both methods are an option if calls are to be kept secret.

Viruses sent with VoIP data could also be a risk factor, although this threat hasn’t been seen yet. Viruses don’t only overload the network, but they also reduce the quality of calls.

Another issue is SPIT – Spam over Internet Telephony. Instead of receiving e-mails you receive calls from companies that try to sell you their services and products.

How secure is my VoIP? Certain services maintain security through encryption or the use of a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network). There are certain things consumers can do themselves.

A firewall will protect your computer from malicious attacks.
All downloads should also be checked for viruses or other threats.

: Image via Wikipedia

VoIP hardware on the other hand can be unstabilized or shut down if it receives certain types of data.
Certain Internet phones are sensitive to data piracy. For individuals these security issues may not be of importance. But businesses have sensitive conversations over the Internet. They have their own gateways and equipment, which makes them an easy prey for DOS attacks (Denial of Service) and other assailments.

NOTE – this article is now dated. I will updated it soon.

If you want to switch over to VoIP instead of PSTN all you need to do is choose a VoIP service provider. Most of these providers are situated in the United States. Some VoIP service providers are: Vonage, BroadVoice, iConnectHere and Lingo.

For a monthly fee of $8-$20 they will provide you with features such as voicemail, call forwarding and unlimited calls in certain areas. For VoIP You need a broadband modem, an ATA ( Analog Telephone Adapter) or IP phone. Both the ATA and the IP phone have a number assigned to it, regardless of your IP ( Internet Protocol ) address. This way, others can contact you wherever you are.

Most people are assigned with a new IP address by their service provider whenever they log on. Others have a permanent IP address which never changes. In both cases you will need a VoIP provider. This way people will be able to contact you through your username instead of your IP address.

As mentioned before VoIP is user-friendly and it’s a low cost service. Most providers offer VoIP for free, they only charge when you make calls to the Public Switched Telephone Network Different VoIP Providers have different protocols. SIP, H.323 and LIAX are only a few of the protocols.

The most popular system for VoIP is Skype. Skype has a proprietary protocol. This makes it hard to connect to the Skype network from another VoIP provider. On the other hand Skype makes up for that with their service SkypeIn. This service allows you to receive calls from standard phone networks.

: Image via Wikipedia

In order to make calls with VoIP, you will need a telephone which can be connected to the World Wide Web. If you wish to use a standard phone with VoIP you can get an Analog Telephone Adapter. This will digitize your voice and enable you to make phonecalls with VoIP. This adapter has an Ethernet connector and a regular connector. Ethernet connectors are the same as regular phone connectors but they are wider.

The ATA will save you money, because you won’t have to buy a new phone. Normally VoIP services will provide you with an ATA. But an IP phone will offer you many perks and extras that come with your VoIP account, such as call display, voicemail and call routing. Also, when you buy your own IP phone you may get a discount on your monthly fee. You can still take advantage of some of these extras with an ATA, but you will have to configure your VoIP account at the service provider’s site.

: Image via Wikipedia

All IP phones have an LCD display for caller ID and phone configuration. Of course the phones differ, ranging from simple phones for personal to complex machines for commercial use. Advanced models have features such as speakerphones and programmable keys. It is also possible to use wireless phones within an IEEE 802.11b wireless network.

IP phones give you the option to route certain calls. You no longer have to do this for each call individually. Anonymous calls for example can be routed to your voicemail or another number. Your IP phone can also be used to store names and phone numbers. Every call that comes in can be added to your phone and edited or deleted.

: Image via Wikipedia

VoIP stands out because of its convenience, quality, but also because of its low cost. Not only is the monthly fee lower than PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) but VoIP also offers features without charging for them.

Despite the fact that VoIP is a great service, there are still a few loose bolts. When switching to VoIP from a traditional phone service it may not be possible t o keep your old phone number. The service offers local phone numbers in some areas. Check with VoIP and your current phone company if this service is available in your area.

Certain VoIP services will redirect your 911 calls to emergency call centers close by, if you have registered your address with them in case you need 911. But, once connected to the emergency center the operator will not be able to determine your location if you can’t speak. Especially for elderly people it is advised to either stick to the traditional phone line or to always have a cell phone nearby.

In case of a blackout VoIP comes with a battery backup. Only during long blackouts the batteries will go empty. For these types of situations it is also advised to keep a traditional line or a cell phone.

If you consider these to be minor flaws and you wish to switch over to VoIP, the first thing you need to do is choose a VoIP service provider.

The difference between the many providers out there is their rate for long-distance and overseas calls. So pick a provider that suits your type of calling most. You can also choose to have multiple phone numbers. If you were to have local numbers in different cities, people who call you in those cities will only pay the local tariff. Pick a VoIP service that will keep your costs at a minimum, and ask for a local number.

To use VoIP you need a broadband cable or DSL modem, a router and perhaps an IP phone. You can also get a modem and router in one. To set VoIP up you need to follow two easy steps: Plug the router into the modem and the IP phone into the router. No fuss, no muss.

WireChatter.com

VoIP Security – Dan York, The Black Bag Security Review

VOIP Security Concerns

VOIP Service Providers

Introduction To VOIP Phones

Switching Over To VOIP

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