Chicago Free VoIP Service Pros & Cons

VoIP Security Issues & Solutions

Voice over IP (VoIP) is rapidly increasing in popularity. The technology was introduced in 1995, and today it is used in an estimated 9% of households. With free services like Skype and hosted Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) that resemble regular telephone lines, people today have more options than ever to stay connected.

But one thing many VoIP users don’t consider is whether or not their communications are safe. The technology is almost 15 years old, but the only word on the subject of security from companies like Skype seems to be along the lines of “It’s safe, don’t worry about it.” Proprietary services like this are often tight-lipped about such issues, but that doesn’t mean that all is well on the VoIP front.

Potential VoIP Security Issues

The big selling point for most VoIP providers seems to be call quality and clarity. Rarely is the issue of security mentioned in these company’s sales pitches. The truth is that these networks are prone to the same problems as any other web-based service. Hackers and viruses are very real problems when it comes to communication through VoIP.

VoIP sends data packages over an Internet network. These packets are treated the same as those used to send and receive website information, MP3s and other files. The main difference is that VoIP data is compressed using voice-specific algorithms and then reinterpreted as audio when they reach their destination. This special compression allows a VoIP network to transmit more data than a standard telephone switchboard.

Unfortunately, an unsecured network is susceptible to infiltration by hackers. It is theoretically possible for an unknown third party to intercept and interpret your calls without your knowledge. If you make frequent, private phone calls, this could be disastrous.

What Can Be Done to Improve VoIP Security?

The consensus among telecommunication experts is that VoIP users should protect their conversations the same way they do for all other online communications. When you order VoIP services through a knowledgeable, experienced provider, you can trust that your phone calls will be protected with the most up-to-date security measures.

A hosted PBX system will often be placed behind a strong firewall for your protection. In short, a firewall blocks unauthorized access to a computer network without restricting outbound communication. The firewall used by your provider could be hardware-based, software-based or both. This is one of the most crucial ways to protect any network.

A professional VoIP setup should also be encrypted. Encryption takes a data packet before it is sent and puts it in an unreadable from during its transmission. When the packet reaches its destination, it is put back in its original form. Think of it as a highly complex version of the notes you wrote as a child using letter substitution (A=1, B=2, etc. etc.) Even if a hacker is able to get his or her hands on your voice data, it would be extremely difficult for them to make any sense of the files.

There are added steps you can take to improve security. If you are hosting your own VoIP PBX, make sure that you frequently patch its security software and monitor it with intrusion detection systems. If someone else is hosting your network, ask them to make sure that they take care of all of this for you.

On the surface, VoIP seems no different than any other telephone system. But its Internet-based nature leaves the technology open to a wide variety of unique security issues. Avoid using any important, private information over free services like Skype or Google Talk. If you decide to use a professional, subscription service, make sure to ask your provider what they do to keep your communications safe and private.