Security Threats To Wireless VoIP

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• Ordinary phone users too can experience the problem of some one tapping into their line and listening. But with a physical medium it is easy to detect and stop. Wireless VoIP not having a physical medium increase the problem as detection is even more difficult.
• Widespread deployment in case of enterprises may only increase the problem many times more. The IT managers must consider more monitoring to find out if there are any compromises to the data or security or any unusual behavior of the users. As any hacker can target multiple devices and create problems in the functioning of the network once they have gained access.
• VoIP Wireless phones are adding many other features and the entry point for malicious attack become more. Blue tooth, e-mail, client web browser, media players, Wi-Fi and many other applications could be used as back door entry for hackers. Open source commercial tool continually test the phones and networks and opting for a reliable vendor is always the best option.
• Wireless scanners can always be used, for example, a blue tooth scanner if used in a railway station or airport can grab user’s data. The best option is to switch off wireless functionality when it is not required.
• Many hackers within hotels and conference areas to specifically target Wi-Fi phones/wireless VoIP phones set up rogue points. Enterprises will have to guard against these rouge access point to the enterprise network. The best possible means would be to have proper authentication for all the devices connected to the network and strong encryption technologies for the data.
• Enterprises will face targeted attacks on VoIP. They may not disclose it for fear that other will find loop holes in their network. Yet one must always remember it is not the spoken information that is important. Hackers look for text information that is privy to individuals and if a specific user is targeted it is easier obtained from their devices than from listening to the calls.
• With laptops, you have a network interface card and there are tow modes of operation. One is the ‘ad hoc mode’ and the second is ‘dual –homing mode’ (simultaneous connection between two networks) Wireless in ‘ad hoc mode’ are most vulnerable to attacks. The manufacturer sets in ad hoc mode and many wireless users do not even know their device is in this mode. Some use their device and forget to turn it off after use. Hackers can use this Wi-Fi and gain information to passwords and credit card information.
• In case of the Dual homing and ad hoc being, active hackers use the ad hoc mode to get into the wired enterprise network. Therefore, the best option when connecting to the enterprise network see that this is through a wired connection and turn off the connection to the wireless network.
• Most still rely on Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) a protocol of 892.11 networks. WEP is found to be inadequate in authentication and encryption. WPA-Wi-Fi Protected Access is a protocol of 802.11i and uses sophisticated key hierarchy and strong encryption methods.

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