Internet Phone Calls at Risk For ID Theft?
The next target for identity theft has been identified.
Voice-over-IP communication is growing in popularity as it allows people to make free or low-cost calls to friends and family around the world – and like any other service that requires a user name and password, it is a target for hackers who have nefarious plans for your personal information.
The upside is that most of us don't yet use this kind of service, so as a matter of numbers, the problem is not large but that doesn't make security experts any more comfortable with the potential for security problems.
Voice over IP – or VoIP, as those in the know call it – allows a user to make a phone call over the internet. People who use public networks or unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots could be broadcasting their user information to anyone intent on "listening in." VoIP service has been popularized mostly by Skype, which enables free computer-to-computer calls, as well as inexpensive computer-to-phone calls, and even phone-to-phone calls with specially designed handsets.
Interestingly enough, the folks at Skype say the security threat need not be a problem, since data encryption is possible with their service already. It's other less robust services that seem to be most at risk. Even so, some analysts say the idea of a threat is overblown, since relatively few people are using this type of service. It's likely as VoIP calling grows in popularity the need for security will be recognized.
And now a question for you loyal Switched readers: Do you use Skype or another VoIP calling service? [Source: BBC News].
Filed under: Computers
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kpilker @ May 17th 2008 10:33PM
I will be the first one to point out that encryption is nice but isnt credit card information stored in an encrypted database? And how many times have we heard of people stealing this information and using it?