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 Never before in the history of
telecommunications has a more important warning been
needed for current and potential VoIP (computer phone)
users who have joined, or will be joining, in the
inevitable paradigm shift from telephone to VoIP.
Warning! Warning! Warning!
Beware of VoIP internet service providers that operate on
industry standard codec and industry standard protocols
because they are PUBLICLY OPEN and INTERPRETABLE! This
also includes, but is not limited to, peer-to-peer (P2P)
networks.
In plain terms, this means, if you subscribe to, or
considering subscribing to a VoIP internet solution
provider who operates on these industry standards – and
over 90% do -- you have inadvertently made yourself
vulnerable to the criminal activities of hackers.
Regardless of the type of anti virus software you have on
your computer, the publicly accessible industry standards
provide a pathway by which these criminals can access your
computer to plant viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and/or
steal your identity.
Like sharks in a feeding frenzy, unscrupulous criminal
hackers view systems operating on these industry standards
as their personal “Cash Cow” because of the ease by
which they can access your computer and gather your
information to sell to other criminals.
Did you know that some hacker-friendly providers offer
processor chips that are only sold on the Internet?
Did you know that hacker-friendly providers actually offer
hacker software that enables these criminals to
deliberately disable security on computers, access your
personal and confidential information, as well as inject
their viruses, worms, and/or Trojan horses?
For instance, “Vomit” is a free download software that
was designed to convert VoIP phone conversations into a
wave file which could be played with standard sound
players. Hackers gleefully interpret this as a tool they
can utilize to attack unsuspecting victims.
Hacker manuals are also easily accessible via the
Internet. One of these manuals shows how to DoS other
sites. DoSing (Disruption of Service) involves gaining
unauthorized access to the “command prompt” on your
computer and using it to tie up your vital Internet
services. When a hacker invades your system, they can then
delete or create files and emails, modify security
features, and plant viruses or time bombs onto your
computer.
“Sniff” is another tool (originally intended to help
telecommunication professionals detect and solve problems)
that criminal hackers use to tamper with the protocol and
“sniff out” data. When hackers sniff out a data packet
from Internet traffic, they reconstruct it to intercept
conversations. This enables them to eavesdrop on
conversations, gather information, and sell it to other
unprincipled criminal entities.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is one of the most sinister of
vulnerabilities you can inadvertently be subjected to.
Identity theft is defined by the Department of Justice as
“…the wrongful obtaining and using of someone else’s
personal data in some way that involves fraud or
deception, typically for economic gain.”
Identity theft is the by-product of unscrupulous criminal
individuals obtaining your social security number
(including those of your spouse and children), your bank
account, your credit card information, etc. Your
information is then sold to other criminal entities for
profit. Using your information, these criminals can then:
·access your bank account funds
·create new bank accounts with your information
·create driver’s licenses
·create passports
Attorney General Ashcroft stated that,
"Identity theft carries a heavy price, both in the
damage to individuals whose identities are stolen and the
enormous cost to America's businesses.”
Don’t be naïve enough to think it won’t happen or
couldn’t happen to you!
A group hosting a website known as shadowcrew.com was
indicted on conspiracy charges for stealing credit card
numbers and identity documents, then selling them online.
While this group allegedly trafficked $1.7 million in
stolen credit card numbers, they also caused losses in
excess of $4 million.
According to a Press Release issued by the Department of
Justice on February 28, 2005, a hacker was convicted of
several counts of fraud, one in which“…he fraudulently
possessed more than 15 computer usernames and passwords
belonging to other persons for the purpose of accessing
their bank and financial services accounts, opening online
bank accounts in the names of those persons, and
transferring funds to unauthorized accounts.”
If you are using a VoIP internet service provider and do
not want to be a victim of Identity Theft, then take the
first step to protect yourself -- don’t use VoIP
internet service providers operating on industry standard
codec and industry standard protocols.
Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses
On January 28, 2005, a press Release issued by the
Department of Justice reported that a 19 year old was
convicted for his criminal activity by “…creating and
unleashing a variant of the MS Blaster computer worm.”
Christopher Wray, Attorney General – Criminal Division
stated that,
"This … malicious attack on the information
superhighway caused an economic and technological
disruption that was felt around the world.”
On February 11, 2005, in a Press Release issued by the
Department of Justice, reported that another criminal was
sentenced for circulating a worm. This worm, “directed
the infected computers to launch a distributed denial of
service (DOS) attack against Microsoft's main web site
causing the site to shutdown and thus became inaccessible
to the public for approximately four hours, ”March 7,
2005, Symantec.com
posted discovery of a worm named “W32.Serflog.B” that
spread through file-sharing networks and MSN Messenger –
networks that operate on publicly open and interpretable
industry standard codec and protocols, including P2P
systems, as well as Instant Messaging systems—none of
which are protected, regardless of the anti virus software
on your computer. The W32.Serflog.B worm also lowers
security settings and appears as a blank message window on
the MSN Messenger. If you don’t want to be the next
victim of the devastation created by worms, STOP using
services that operate on industry standard codec and
protocols, and/or services that incorporate P2P systems.
Anti virus software does not incorporate protection for
Instant Messaging services. In addition, Instant Messaging
services, in and of themselves, do not include protection
for their users.
If you like the convenience of text chatting via Instant
Messaging, then use a VoIP internet service provider that
includes the Instant Messaging feature -- one that does
not operate on industry standard codec or industry
standard protocols that are publicly open and accessible.
Optimally secure VoIP service providers that incorporate a
secure Instant Messaging feature, operate from their own
proprietary high end encryption codec on patented
technology that is hosted in a professional facility.
Simply put, when a VoIP internet service provider operates
on optimally secure platforms, the Instant Messaging
feature on the VoIP softphone, is also protected with
their technology.
A Trojan horse is a program that internet criminals use to
interrupt and interfere with your security software and
produces the following results
·Terminates processes
·Removes registry entries
·Stops services
·Delete files
Hackers, who have gained access to your computer, because
of the programs and software as mentioned above, are
having a field day incorporating this nasty little program
into their arsenal of weapons.
As recently as March 4, 2005, a new Trojan horse was
discovered that modified settings in Internet Explorer.
Windows 2000, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows
NT, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP were the reported
systems that could be affected.
Here’s the bottom line.
1.If you are currently using a VoIP internet solution
provider that operates on industry standard codec and
industry standard protocols that are publicly open and
interpretable, you need to make a decision:
a. Continue enticing criminal hackers and remain on their
service, or
b. Take immediate corrective action.
2.If you are currently using Instant Messaging of any
sort, you need to make a decision
a. Continue enticing criminal hackers and remain as a user
of their service, or
b. Take immediate corrective action.
If you decide to take immediate corrective action:
1.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that has their
own proprietary high end encryption codec
2.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that has their
own proprietary patented technology
3.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that hosts their
proprietary patented technology in a professional facility
4.Find a VoIP internet solution provider that includes the
Instant Messaging feature in their proprietary patented
technology
Here’s a place you can look over to see what a VoIP
internet solution provider looks like that operates on
their own proprietary high end encryption codec with their
own proprietary patented technology hosted in a
professional facility, AND that incorporates the Instant
Messaging feature.
http://www.free-pc-phone.com
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