New software, services, and applications are frequently launched and many of them are essentially secure. However, improper use and implementations can cause small leaks prone to being vulnerable. In their urgency to be at the forefront of technological advances, users can ignore security until it is too late and a breach occurs.
Voice over Internet Protocol is a technology that gains new adepts every day. A large number of residences and businesses are implementing these services as an extremely profitable alternative to traditional telephony. Some individuals and businesses may have wondered how high the risk of exposing information through the internet is.
Is VoIP secure?
Before discussing and exploring whether VoIP is a secure system, we must understand the basic principles of VoIP: instead of using dedicated copper lines, VoIP calls are routed over data networks.
New security threats are discovered every day and no phone system is bulletproof, as each one has its own weaknesses to be protected from. In general, VoIP is just as secure as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PTS).
The PTS is also a victim of hacking attacks. The calls made through this phone system are connected using audio signals, which attackers can easily intercept. PTS is even susceptible to attacks in any place where physical access to wiring is possible. Which is the case of VoIP?
It is very important to remember that to use a VoIP system, it is strictly necessary to have a broadband internet connection. The fact that VoIP depends on an internet connection means that it is vulnerable to the same sort of attacks that befall other forms on the internet.
Basically, it is susceptible to all the security threats of the internet since the data that travels across the network is not more or less secure than any other application on an IP infrastructure.
VoIP security threats
Criminals are constantly finding new ways to infiltrate undetected VoIP systems to illegally take advantage of all their benefits. There are many forms of attack, but these are the most common:
- SPAM – a VoIP voicemail could be targeted for robocalls and other phone scams.
- TOLL FRAUD – attackers infiltrate into the system to make international phone calls causing an increment in the owner’s bills.
- EAVESDROPPING – attackers take advantage of insecure VoIP systems to surreptitiously listen to conversations without consent, in order to gather information.
- PHISHING – this type of scam causes the victim to reveal sensitive data by relying on the ID caller.
- MALWARE – in this case, aggressors employ different malicious software to infiltrate into the network and obtain compromising data.
- DENIAL OF SERVICE – attackers drain the network resources in order to interrupt the phone service and drop phone calls. This can trigger other issues such as latency, jitter, and poor call quality.
Recommendations to maintain a VoIP system secure
Nowadays, VoIP is quite a secure system, but to have a more protected service is not impossible. The safety of VoIP systems is achieved by the implementation and compliance with security protocols.
It is fundamental to ensure that the provider meets the security requirements which vary depending on whether the system is going to be for a residence or for a business, and of course on their specific needs. Users must take some measures to make the data network more secure, especially if they have not recently performed an overall security audit.
A good start is to encrypt calls because it will help users, for example, to avoid hacking attacks. However, encryption is not the only piece of the puzzle, it must be combined with other measures to have an effective security fence.
There are different technical solutions based on authentication and authorization such as allowing only specific devices to access the VoIP server or use adequate and strong passwords.
VoIP users can also install monitoring and detection software to help identify irregular patterns and glitches in the regular VoIP traffic, and emit an alert if they happen. That will allow the necessary measures to be quickly taken, in case there are any security breaches.
For businesses, it is crucial to train and create awareness of security issues for their employees, in the ways in which VoIP systems can be compromised so that they can give an alert on any signals that may appear suspicious.
VoIP is itself a secure communication tool. In this sense, if users implement extra security measures, they will be able to better protect their VoIP systems and avoid security breaches.
Virtual numbers
VoIP can be an extremely secure system by taking the proper actions, so there is no reason to give up on all the benefits and features that VoIP can offer. Its technology even provides users with two different types of virtual numbers: Fixed VoIP numbers and Non Fixed VoIP numbers.
As its name indicates, the difference between them lies in their relationship with a physical address. The first one is associated with a real location while the second one is not. So Non-Fixed VoIP numbers, also known as Non-VoIP numbers, are highly versatile and flexible. Operated by the Epsilon Technology LTD company, VerifyWithSMS is a Non VoIP number provider. These U.S.-based Non-VoIP numbers can only be used to receive text messages, so they are perfect in helping users bypass the validation process on many platforms such as Gmail, Uber, Amazon, Binance, and many more.