Worried your VoIP network is not secure? Take a look how to protect your business from three of the most serious threats to your IP telephony services. Businesses of all sizes adopting IP telephony need to seriously consider its security implications. But while a number of threats exist, three stand out as the most dangerous, particularly to smaller organisations: denial of service, spit and fraud.
Denial of Service:
The most serious threat to VoIP is a distributed denial of service attack. It can affect any internet-connected device and works by flooding networks with spurious traffic or server requests. The attack is generated by machines that have been compromised by a virus or other malware and the massive increase in traffic means the affected servers are unable to process any valid requests and the whole system grinds to a halt. Even small denial of service attacks measure around 2Gbps with large ones in the 17Gbps range. A survey reviles that 7 per cent of PCs on the internet are compromised and in some area 6.8 million machines have been used to send spam.
While few denial of service attacks currently specifically target VoIP systems, the real-time nature of voice traffic means they have a massive impact. Users immediately detect a drop-off in service quality and ultimately their IP handsets stop working. Denial of service would be an extremely effective tool for hackers wanting to bring down an organisation's entire communications system.
Defending networks against denial of service attacks is extremely difficult but enterprises can at least stop their machines from becoming part of the problem. Businesses should use antivirus software and it keep up-to-date, install a firewall and configure it to restrict traffic coming into and leaving the organisation, and use anti-spam tools to cut down on the volume of emailed malware.
Good network practice, such as changing login defaults and using firewalls, can help mitigate the impact of these attacks. In many cases hiring a consultant to do a VoIP-focused security audit will be money very well spent.
Businesses need to look carefully at their VoIP infrastructure and make sure that all unnecessary applications are removed. A good example is the web servers that are built into IP handsets to make them easy to manage remotely. If these are not configured properly then companies may find these actually indexed by Google on the internet. Other applications to be removed include telnet and FTP.
Stopping spit
While the above network vulnerabilities present a very real and present danger to businesses deploying VoIP, media attention has lingered on the potential danger of spam over internet telephony, or spit.
Spam has been a hot topic for several years and unsolicited commercial and malicious email spam now makes up the majority of email worldwide. In Europe in 2006, according to analysts, 16 billion spam messages were sent each day, representing 62 per cent of all European email messages - and this figure will increase to 37 billion spam emails a day by 2010.
The palpable fear is that VoIP will suffer the same fate. Certainly spammers wield enough power and would be enthusiastic adopters of a new voice channel to spread their message. If VoIP suffered the same fate as email, enterprise IP telephony would become unusable.
The problem with VoIP spam is that email anti-spam methods will not work. The potential threat posed by spit is driving vendors to develop alternative anti-spam solutions. NEC has announced a modular tool called VoIP Seal that uses a combination of methods to identify spit. When a call comes in, the system checks to see if the call is potentially a spam call by checking whether it comes from a suspect source.
If it is a suspect call, it is forwarded to an automated system that uses a 'Turing test' to identify whether a caller is a human or a machine. This involves playing an announcement and detecting whether the caller tries to speak over it, for example. Other approaches would be to only allow particular callers through by having the system determine the caller's identity but this could fall victim to spoofing.
Despite the potentially dire consequences there is not much evidence of any actual spit attacks. The main reason for this is that most IP telephony systems are still islands in the sea of public switched telephone network. The vast majority of VoIP calls will pass through the PSTN at some stage because most IP telephony networks are not yet directly interconnected. Forewarned, however, is forearmed, and businesses will need to prepare to extend their anti-spam efforts into voice.
Fighting fraud
One area where malware can pose a serious problem for VoIP users is fraud. The biggest concern for business is probably going to be premium-rate fraud, where a criminal hacks into the VoIP system and makes calls to a premium rate number.
This fraud is not new and PBXs have always been vulnerable to these hacks. The difference is that few people could hack into PBXs, compared to the hordes actively breaking into IP systems.
Though they are likely to be more of a menace to consumers than to businesses, fraud techniques honed in email phishing could be used in voice calls. There is the potential for massive fraud in the early days of voice phishing simply because users still trust telephone messages more than emails. There have already been some clever phishing attacks that use a combination of email and voice to lend credibility to the scam.
One example is an email purporting to be from PayPal that asks users to call a number to verify their account details. There's nothing new about this fraud apart from the use of telephony. Unfortunately the fraudsters are able to make the automated service completely convincing by simply recording the real one. The only way that users can determine that it is fraudulent is by checking the number of they are calling with the real PayPal number. While the security threats for VoIP are real, if businesses take the proper precautions they can be assured their voice communications will be safe.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
VoIP Software Helps Make Small Businesses Competitive
Once upon a time VoIP was just a way for the extremely computer savvy to save a few bucks by making computer to computer "phone calls" to a limited circle of friends who were running the same software and had a microphone and a set of speakers or a headphone. Fast forward to modern times where VoIP provides economical phone solutions for consumers from all walks of life and can provide a competitive edge for businesses, especially small businesses. Today's VoIP allows the use of real phones and users can call any phone number in the world using a service such as Skype for a very small fee. Add to that the voice technology software for things like auto-dialers and auto appointment reminders and a small business can really start to get competitive with the big boys.
They always used to say that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer and that has never been truer than in business today. The other old saying that helps to explain this phenomenon says that time is money. Traditionally big businesses with big budgets were the only ones who could afford the time and money saving solutions like auto-dialers and appointment reminders while small businesses were forced to use their already limited manpower resources making endless phone calls, with much of that time spent listening to the phone ringing or busy signals. There is a wide array of VoIP software solutions offered these days that make time-saving and money making phone solutions accessible for everyone and give small businesses a chance.
First impressions are difficult to change, especially for a small business. Using the same tools that the big companies do adds a certain level of credibility to a business that may otherwise be elusive. When marketing products and/or services via the telephone the customer is going to judge the company's entire image based on how the phone call is executed as it is their only point of reference. VoIP technology has made a great deal of progress in the last ten years and currently provides a practical alternative to the pricey services offered by the phone company. In today's economy small efforts to save time and money can be the difference between success and failure, especially for the small business. VoIP software solutions can provide that competitive edge to keep small businesses profitable.
Any good VoIP company can provide software solutions such as auto dialers, auto appointment reminders, text to voice and broadcast email solutions to give small businesses that competitive edge they are seeking. Couple those types of software solutions with an affordable VoIP service provider such as Skype and even the smallest business can project a successful image that will add to their bottom line even during the most trying economic times. A successful image, higher productivity and financial savings are all benefits of using VoIP software and services over those offered by traditional phone companies and Yahoo and Skype are top notch choices available in today's market.
They always used to say that the rich get richer while the poor get poorer and that has never been truer than in business today. The other old saying that helps to explain this phenomenon says that time is money. Traditionally big businesses with big budgets were the only ones who could afford the time and money saving solutions like auto-dialers and appointment reminders while small businesses were forced to use their already limited manpower resources making endless phone calls, with much of that time spent listening to the phone ringing or busy signals. There is a wide array of VoIP software solutions offered these days that make time-saving and money making phone solutions accessible for everyone and give small businesses a chance.
First impressions are difficult to change, especially for a small business. Using the same tools that the big companies do adds a certain level of credibility to a business that may otherwise be elusive. When marketing products and/or services via the telephone the customer is going to judge the company's entire image based on how the phone call is executed as it is their only point of reference. VoIP technology has made a great deal of progress in the last ten years and currently provides a practical alternative to the pricey services offered by the phone company. In today's economy small efforts to save time and money can be the difference between success and failure, especially for the small business. VoIP software solutions can provide that competitive edge to keep small businesses profitable.
Any good VoIP company can provide software solutions such as auto dialers, auto appointment reminders, text to voice and broadcast email solutions to give small businesses that competitive edge they are seeking. Couple those types of software solutions with an affordable VoIP service provider such as Skype and even the smallest business can project a successful image that will add to their bottom line even during the most trying economic times. A successful image, higher productivity and financial savings are all benefits of using VoIP software and services over those offered by traditional phone companies and Yahoo and Skype are top notch choices available in today's market.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Free PC to Phone Calls
The computer has invented many basic processes in a new way completely and has therefore left a positive tussle on the human head. Calling is one of those features and human beings have now being given the facility of free calling with the integration of VOIP and the personal computer.
A person is given the facility to make a call to any location in the world with the help of this technology and hence the utilization of this feature is a aspect which is quite prominent in the field of communication. Free PC to phone calls are therefore being made by people all over the world and the world at any single second of the total set of 24 hours is able to witness millions of calls of this type being made.
PC to phone calls are essentially handled by specific software which are made for this purpose only, and these software are quite easy to install and then use. The business prospects of this feature is now realized and hence people subscribe to the services of numerous service providers. These providers have their specific websites where the user can go and gain knowledge to the type of service( in this context). He can therefore know about the usage of the software and hence after installation the chance of any unnecessary confusion of the user is minimized.
The versatile technology of VOIP is quite an interesting aspect in its functioning and hence it is quite fascinating to get an idea about the basic way this technology works. The primary process is the conversion of human voice into digital signals which are then ferried across the network to their individual destinations in the packet transfer mode. This is therefore an extremely reliable and also a secure system and also one with quite a high degree of performance. The wonderful performance can be associated with the fact that the presence of perhaps the most advanced physical medium of fiber optics increases both the speed as well as the amount of the information that is being sent.
The hardware that anyone would need in order to use the advantages of free PC calling is also not extensive. All that is needed is a PC with a good internet connection and also good quality speakers and a headset with of course a microphone.
As most of the business of VOIP is now being undertaken in the form of calling websites of VOIP service providers, hence the user has lots of choices to choose from, for accessing the features of free PC calls. Most of these websites are developed by talented web developers and programmers and are therefore quite easy to comprehend for the user. These websites primarily require the registration of the user after which he is required to download and install the software needed for making free PC calls. The software that are currently available in most of the websites have extremely simple user interfaces and hence even a child with the knowledge of computers up to the level of the games that he plays, can make a call. This simplicity is one of the major reasons for the success of this new feature in the communication arena and is also one of the major contributors to the ever growing number of satisfied customers.
The world is now completely connected with all the major cities having this feature and therefore anyone with the access to a computer(which has the required software) can make free PC calls. Almost all of the developing economies and all the developed countries have their population using this feature and hence free calling is now gradually shedding off the garb of a new attractive technology into a commonly known feature. Hence PC to Phone calls are now being used by human beings of perhaps all the existent nationalities in the world.
A person is given the facility to make a call to any location in the world with the help of this technology and hence the utilization of this feature is a aspect which is quite prominent in the field of communication. Free PC to phone calls are therefore being made by people all over the world and the world at any single second of the total set of 24 hours is able to witness millions of calls of this type being made.
PC to phone calls are essentially handled by specific software which are made for this purpose only, and these software are quite easy to install and then use. The business prospects of this feature is now realized and hence people subscribe to the services of numerous service providers. These providers have their specific websites where the user can go and gain knowledge to the type of service( in this context). He can therefore know about the usage of the software and hence after installation the chance of any unnecessary confusion of the user is minimized.
The versatile technology of VOIP is quite an interesting aspect in its functioning and hence it is quite fascinating to get an idea about the basic way this technology works. The primary process is the conversion of human voice into digital signals which are then ferried across the network to their individual destinations in the packet transfer mode. This is therefore an extremely reliable and also a secure system and also one with quite a high degree of performance. The wonderful performance can be associated with the fact that the presence of perhaps the most advanced physical medium of fiber optics increases both the speed as well as the amount of the information that is being sent.
The hardware that anyone would need in order to use the advantages of free PC calling is also not extensive. All that is needed is a PC with a good internet connection and also good quality speakers and a headset with of course a microphone.
As most of the business of VOIP is now being undertaken in the form of calling websites of VOIP service providers, hence the user has lots of choices to choose from, for accessing the features of free PC calls. Most of these websites are developed by talented web developers and programmers and are therefore quite easy to comprehend for the user. These websites primarily require the registration of the user after which he is required to download and install the software needed for making free PC calls. The software that are currently available in most of the websites have extremely simple user interfaces and hence even a child with the knowledge of computers up to the level of the games that he plays, can make a call. This simplicity is one of the major reasons for the success of this new feature in the communication arena and is also one of the major contributors to the ever growing number of satisfied customers.
The world is now completely connected with all the major cities having this feature and therefore anyone with the access to a computer(which has the required software) can make free PC calls. Almost all of the developing economies and all the developed countries have their population using this feature and hence free calling is now gradually shedding off the garb of a new attractive technology into a commonly known feature. Hence PC to Phone calls are now being used by human beings of perhaps all the existent nationalities in the world.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
VOIP getting popular in Asia
Internet telephony is now a billions business in Asia and is expected to grow by at least 20 per cent annually. Enterprises who initially wary of VOIP due to reliability and investment seems to have finally overcome their initial resistance.
Major countries in Asia such as China, Japan, India and Singapore have taken significant steps for VOIP implementation for enterprises.
Why VOIP is on the Rise?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection. It converts the voice signals into data for transmission over an IP network, and then reconverts the data back to voice signals.
There are several factors tip in the scales in favor of IP telephony. But the primary one is the trend towards a consolidated data and voice infrastructure as organizations look to reduce operational costs.
Also, an increasing need to replace traditional private branch exchange (PBX) systems has pushed businesses to look at alternatives like VOIP. With the current distributed IP phone solution, enterprises do not have to fuss over system breakdowns that once plagued the old PBX.
The implementation of VOIP system allows voice calls to be carried over the company’s existing data network. The IP phone system has helped to reduce voice traffic and ease the maintenance.
The rise of VOIP among enterprises also because of the high growth of broadband connections to the home, improvements in quality of service, and hook-ups that allow VOIP calls over ordinary telephone handsets rather than clunky PC microphone systems.
VOIP services for now typically promise a significant cost savings, virtually wiping out charges for long distance and international calls. In addition, connecting phone calls over the Internet could eventually open the door to advanced communications services that tie voice together with e-mail, instant messaging and video conferencing.
Major countries in Asia such as China, Japan, India and Singapore have taken significant steps for VOIP implementation for enterprises.
Why VOIP is on the Rise?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection. It converts the voice signals into data for transmission over an IP network, and then reconverts the data back to voice signals.
There are several factors tip in the scales in favor of IP telephony. But the primary one is the trend towards a consolidated data and voice infrastructure as organizations look to reduce operational costs.
Also, an increasing need to replace traditional private branch exchange (PBX) systems has pushed businesses to look at alternatives like VOIP. With the current distributed IP phone solution, enterprises do not have to fuss over system breakdowns that once plagued the old PBX.
The implementation of VOIP system allows voice calls to be carried over the company’s existing data network. The IP phone system has helped to reduce voice traffic and ease the maintenance.
The rise of VOIP among enterprises also because of the high growth of broadband connections to the home, improvements in quality of service, and hook-ups that allow VOIP calls over ordinary telephone handsets rather than clunky PC microphone systems.
VOIP services for now typically promise a significant cost savings, virtually wiping out charges for long distance and international calls. In addition, connecting phone calls over the Internet could eventually open the door to advanced communications services that tie voice together with e-mail, instant messaging and video conferencing.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Can VOIP Work With My Regular Phone?
Advancement in computer technology continues to grow. It seems that as soon as you understand and become comfortable with particular software and/or service a new and improved version appears on the horizon of technology. Most people are familiar with instant messaging and enjoy talking instantly with their friends and family with their personal computer (PC). The newest advancement that combines instant messaging with your phone service known as Voice over IP (Voice over Internet Protocol), is the latest advancement in Internet technologies. What exactly is this and how does it benefit you?
Voice over IP is a technology that provides you with the ability to make telephone calls using your current broadband Internet connection. There are several different services available. Some allow you to call only those with the same service as yours, others allow you to call anyone with a telephone number even if it is a cell phone. Services also differ in that some work with your phone and a special adapter and others over your computer with a special Voice over IP adaptor.
The way Voice over IP functions is that it takes your voice signal as it travels through your computer (the Internet) and changes it to a signal that the computer recognizes. This is what allows you to make calls from your traditional phone to other computers.. Depending on your service provider, you may also use Voice over IP with wireless connections. There are different methods available for using Voice over IP such as making calls directly from your computer, using a special Voice over IP phone, or even using a traditional phone with a Voice over IP adaptor.
In order to use this service you will need access to high speed Internet (broadband connection). If you use an adaptor, you will then connect your traditional telephone to the adaptor or you can connect a microphone and speaker to your computer and use the service. The price of the service depends on several factors including which provider you choose for your service, the type of plan you decide upon, and whether you intend to make International calls.
If you decide upon Voice over IP service, consider what you will do in the event of a power outage. Check to see if your provider offers a backup plan in case of such events. In addition, can you contact 9-1-1- with the plan you choose. Some providers combine their instant messages with Voice over IP service that will display a phone pad in the instant messaging window, allow you to manage the calls that you make and receive, and more.
Voice over IP is a technology that provides you with the ability to make telephone calls using your current broadband Internet connection. There are several different services available. Some allow you to call only those with the same service as yours, others allow you to call anyone with a telephone number even if it is a cell phone. Services also differ in that some work with your phone and a special adapter and others over your computer with a special Voice over IP adaptor.
The way Voice over IP functions is that it takes your voice signal as it travels through your computer (the Internet) and changes it to a signal that the computer recognizes. This is what allows you to make calls from your traditional phone to other computers.. Depending on your service provider, you may also use Voice over IP with wireless connections. There are different methods available for using Voice over IP such as making calls directly from your computer, using a special Voice over IP phone, or even using a traditional phone with a Voice over IP adaptor.
In order to use this service you will need access to high speed Internet (broadband connection). If you use an adaptor, you will then connect your traditional telephone to the adaptor or you can connect a microphone and speaker to your computer and use the service. The price of the service depends on several factors including which provider you choose for your service, the type of plan you decide upon, and whether you intend to make International calls.
If you decide upon Voice over IP service, consider what you will do in the event of a power outage. Check to see if your provider offers a backup plan in case of such events. In addition, can you contact 9-1-1- with the plan you choose. Some providers combine their instant messages with Voice over IP service that will display a phone pad in the instant messaging window, allow you to manage the calls that you make and receive, and more.
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