Networking Information

The Single Most Important Thing to Know About Computer Phones (VoIP)


Over 90% of computer phones (VoIP) are not secure because they use a public known codex (publicly known encryption of sound packets) and a publicly known protocol to transport voice conversations. Therefore, users of these type of services are unknowingly exposing themselves to anyone who wants to listen in or access their confidential information. In addition, because of the public openness, the user's computer's vulnerability can result in a costly computer crash and total loss of all information.

Peer-to-peer computer phones are on unsecure lines.

There are five areas to address when checking for Security when looking for a VoIP Service Provider. Here's how a VoIP Service should protect your security, whether on dial-up, wireless, satellite, or cable connections.

1. Call Security: A VoIP service's audio (your voice) should compress your voice into proprietary encryption packets to travel across the internet, and return back to voice at destination. That particular VoIP service should host proprietary software, and as such, the only one that can interpret the voice and data contained in those packets.

2. Computer Phone Identity: When your first download and install a VoIP provider's computer phone, a confidential phone number and password should be given to protect against unauthorized installation. To protect against unauthorized installation, your computer phone's setup process should combine the phone name and hardware data from the PC on which it was installed to create a unique ID string known only to that VoIP's own server. Because of the association between the unique ID with that particular PC, it prevents one person from reconfiguring their VoIP service's computer phone to spoof another. It also prevents someone from copying that VoIP service's software to another PC and then using it without having gone through the password-protected installation process.

3. Client Server Model: The VoIP service should follow a client-server model. The client is the softphone offered by a particular VoIP service. That particular VoIP service's Server should be behind a highly secure proprietary firewall hosted in a professional facility. Any information shared should therefore only be between the client and server of that particular VoIP service. This means, that unlike some peer-to-peer solutions, private information about "buddy" lists or call patterns, etc., remains entirely confidential.

4. Softphone Setup: Firewalls vary widely and each network configuration may be quite different. When a VoIP service's softphone first initializes, it discovers its ability to reach that VoIP's service server, as well as a variety of ports and protocols for placing calls, depending on the results of its discovery. In a strict environment, the VoIP service's softphone uses the same path the proprietary firewall already permits for web browsing (typically TCP ports 80 and 443). This allows users to make calls from anywhere without compromising or reconfiguring their own firewalls.

The VoIP service's softphone should be able to initiate conversations with that VoIP service's server and keep the server updated as to its status. By doing this, no public IP address needs to be setup for the PC running the computer phone. It also enables user flexibility without concern about security or privacy when moving from network to network. The VoIP service's computer phone should be compatible with Network Address Translation (NAT) and Port Address Translation (PAT), and the kind of dynamic addressing that is found in wireless "hotspots", hotel internet access, and dial-up.

5. Monitoring Capability: A strong security model should include an auditing mechanism to monitor usage and activity. This means that each computer phone should include its own usage log, enabling users to look through their own personal history of inbound, outbound, and missed calls. In addition, the VoIP service's website should provide users the ability to view all individual phone call charges using the already set up confidential number and password.

Dee Scrip and her close friend Andy Murray operate the website http://www.whypay4calls.com. Where you can experience a 7 day free trial with a secure line on patented technology. NO contracts, obligations, or hassles!


MORE RESOURCES:

Connect Stat

Google to roll out VoIP package to Middle East
8el
Consumers in the Middle East could soon be able to access Google's VoIP service, according to reports. The firm recently launched its web-based VoIP ...
Google plans to Expand Voip Services in Middle EastConnect Stat
Google denies Mideast VOIP roll-out rumoursArabianBusiness.com
Local Versions of Google's Voip To Be LaunchedGulf Jobs Market News
ITWeb -Techwatch -Emirates 24/7
all 32 news articles »


Apparent Networks Simplifies VoIP Testing
CTO Edge (blog)
That appliance measures the amount of loss, latency and jitter on the network to determine its suitability for running VoIP applications, which Melvin noted ...
Apparent Networks Releases Cloud-Based VoIP Testing SolutionPhone Plus (blog)

all 10 news articles »


Verint Systems Granted U.S. Patent on Call Center IP Recording
MarketWatch (press release)
RE41,608) to the company in the area of data packet--eg, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP or IP)--recording. This patent significantly strengthens ...

and more »


AudioCodes to Present at the Rodman & Renshaw Growth Conference in NYC on ...
MarketWatch (press release)
AudioCodes is a VoIP technology leader focused on VoIP communications, applications and networking elements, and its products are deployed globally in ...

and more »


InnoMedia's ESBC 8528-4B With Smart-DQoS(TM) Technology Added to Product ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Located at the network edge, the ESBC 8528-4B enables NAT and firewall traversal, permitting VoIP traffic to enter the network while preventing unauthorized ...

and more »


Three arrested for offering VoIP services
GulfNews
... Dubai: Police say they have arrested three men for offering illegal international calls using the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. ...
Three arrested over illegal cheap international phone callsNational

all 3 news articles »


Dialexia: VoIP on any scale you want it.
Enterprise VoIP Planet
Dial-Office is an Internet alternative to the traditional circuit-switched enterprise phone system, delivering a reliable, low-cost VoIP communications ...
SMBs look to cost savings with VoIP solutionsTelappliant VoIP News
Cheap International Calls at Its Best With VoIPBoosh News (press release) (blog)
Great Long Talks Thru Cheap International CallsBoosh News (press release) (blog)

all 4 news articles »


Skype Debuts Formal Channel Partner Program
ChannelWeb
... will bring on solution providers as both Skype integrators and Skype evangelists as the popular VoIP service furthers its business enterprise ambitions. ...
Skype Launches U.S. Channel ProgramPhone Plus (blog)

all 13 news articles »


DMSL Reports Gains with Hosted VoIP Partners
TMCnet
Carter also said that the resellers introducing the hosted VoIP proposition to market are receiving good response with several of them completing their ...



Telegraph.co.uk

Use Gmail to make VoIP calls: Hands-on review
CNET
Specifically, a plugin that lets you surface a dial pad so you can launch VoIP calls from the Gmail.com in-box, or from within iGoogle. ...
Google Reaches 1 Million Calls On New Gmail VoIP ServiceChannelWeb
Voice Calling Coming to Gmail?PC World
Google Sees A Million Calls On First Day Of GMail/VoIPDslreports
InternetNews.com -TMC Net -TG Daily
all 1,862 news articles »

Google News