The Network Security. Org

How Secure Are Internet Phone Calls?

The allure of Internet phone calling is understandable dirt cheap calls to anywhere in the world, sound quality that's at times superior to the traditional landline and the ability to take your phone number with you when you travel.

But, buyer beware. These calls are just like any other form of digital communication, like e-mail, which can be hacked, spammed and saved on servers.

While Internet calling programs from Skype and Vonage to Google and Yahoo are getting more and more popular, security experts warn that they're not as secure as your traditionallandline.

"Lots of people are ignoring the risks about it," said Rodney Thayer, a Mountain View, Calif., security consultant. "Sometimes there's absolutely no encryption. Someone could listen to your conversation. It's not clear that these services have been hardened so that no inappropriate activity could take place." Security News: How Secure Are Internet Phone Calls?

More News

• NetWitness releases free version of security software
  



• Three Reasons Why Users Won’t Buy Into Security
  



• Automated security testing & its limitations
  



• How to Use Network Behavior Analysis Tools
  



• The insider security threat in IT and financial services
  



• Top 10 Network Security Threats
  



• Big leap in malicious Web sites
  



• Network security makes a quantum leap
  



• Microsoft Preps 11 Security Bulletins for Patch Tuesday
  



• Practical Defense in Depth
  



• Apple releases another mega-patch for Mac OS X
  



• Security flaw in smart cards poses risk for transit, building access
  



• Free TrojanProof Password Tool Released for Windows
  



• Security scans with OpenVAS
  



• Do ISPs pose a bigger online privacy threat than Google
  



• HTTPS Cookie-Hijacking Tool CookieMonster Gobbles Personal Data
  



• Anatomy of a botnet
  



• Microsoft patches 8 critical bugs in Windows, Office
  



• Virtualization users should expect more attacks
  



• Threat From DNS Bug Is not Over, Experts Say