Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has grown to become more advanced in recent years and paved the way to next-level communication technology. With this in mind, there is a good chance that your hosting provider is doing everything through online platforms. 

Partnering with a reputable provider ensures that you and your sensitive business data are kept safe under tight security. However, it still pays to know what to do in the event of an unwanted hacking incident. 

To learn how to deal with and prevent Voip Hacking, take a look at the infographic below.

What is VoIP Hacking?

VoIP hacking occurs when an unauthorised person or group attempt to infiltrate the phone systems of your business. Through this, unwanted guests can take valuable and sensitive information from your database, causing you severe losses.

Hackers may also listen in on ongoing calls between you and your customers to steal credit card numbers and other valuable information. Additionally, Hackers can take this information to sell it to other companies in competition with your business. 

VoIP hacking incidents typically occur when an employee relays information to a scammer by mistake. 

VoIP Hacking and Security Statistics

1. 38% of small businesses don’t have cybersecurity protocols

A cybersecurity breaches survey in 2018 stated that 38% of small businesses had not established a clear protocol regarding cybersecurity threats. As a result, these businesses are putting their online safety at risk. 

Among the cases of cybercriminal activity, the survey also found that hackers conducted the most frequent type of fraud through emails. These fraudulent emails are sent by VoIP hackers who attempt to impersonate known organisations online.

2. 80% of hacking-related data breaches compromised login credentials

According to a Data Breach Investigations Report released in 2019, 80% of hacking incidents used stolen login credentials. These include email addresses, passwords, usernames, and other related data necessary to access a business’s portal.  

In some cases, hackers accessed login credentials through brute force methods such as guessing account passwords. The data implies that these accounts did not use two-factor authentication or a strong enough password to keep their data secured. 

3. 62% of businesses fell victim to a social engineering attack

The number of scam call incidents has significantly risen since 2018, where 62% of businesses stated that they experienced social engineering attacks. This has cost businesses over $10.5 billion worth of losses during that year in the United States alone. 

4. 25% of Wi-Fi hotspots in the world remain unsafe

Hackers can easily access devices connected to unencrypted networks such as public Wi-Fi. It is estimated that one in four Wi-Fi hotspots have loose encryption systems that may put your device susceptible to hacking.

5. 51% of targeted VoIP protocol cases fall under Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

SIP is typically used for VoIP phone calls and video conferencing. In 2016, Security Intelligence recorded that over 51% of cybersecurity breaches are due to the use of a SIP. 

Different Types of VoIP Hacks

• Unauthorised use 

Hackers use the phone system of your business to conduct fraudulent phone calls with your clients and customers. In some cases, they may also play pre-recorded messages that ask your customers to confirm their account details. 

This type of hacking is successful when hackers can access your company’s phone service and impersonate an employee. 

• Toll fraud 

Hackers can attempt toll fraud by making international calls to other devices to access your VoIP systems. Through this method, hackers can attempt phishing scams to gain banking information such as credit card numbers and account details. 

The toll charges from these calls may also be charged to your company, which can accumulate significant losses over a period.

• Caller ID spoofing 

Caller ID spoofing allows hackers to access your VoIP system by using a fake caller ID number. These attackers often pretend to be your VoIP service provider and ask you to verify details regarding your account and other sensitive data. 

• Eavesdropping 

Companies that handle payments and transactions over the phone may be at risk of eavesdropping from hackers. If your business uses an unencrypted network, hackers can easily access your system in real-time. As a result, they can listen to your conversations over the phone with customers and other team members. 

• Social engineering 

Social engineering is a VoIP attack where hackers pretend to be real people and develop a relationship with your company. As a result, businesses or employees are tricked into handing their private information over. 

How to Prevent Hacks and Secure Your VoIP Network

• Control admin access

Avoid giving all your employees the same level of access to your database. You can control who can use your accounts by restricting admin privileges solely to team leads and essential members of the company. 

• Always use VPNs for remote access

A reliable VPN can give your business an extra measure of security for your systems and data. VPNs can hide your IP address and encrypt your online footprint to prevent hackers from tracing your systems and finding an open-source to enter.

• Monitor your access logs

Frequently monitoring your company’s access logs can let you know who logged in to your accounts and when. In some systems, you may also view processed activities and more. 

• Use two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is easy enough to set up and provides you with extra security whenever you need to access your data. This security process uses two different login methods that go beyond a simple username and password system.

• Partner with reputable VoIP providers

VoIP providers can offer your company reliable phone systems to ensure that you are well-encrypted with the latest security measures. VoIP providers also allow your business to save on operational costs since they do not use regular landline platforms. 

• Test your security

The best way to know if your cybersecurity system works well is to test it through reliable programs that can try to hack into your accounts. With this preventative measure, you can also determine the weak points of your security and improve them before your data is compromised. 

• Use tough-to-guess passwords

Most hackers often use brute force attacks to access your accounts by just guessing your password. You can prevent this by using more challenging passwords that use a combination of letters, numbers, special characters, etc. Additionally, not using the same passwords for different accounts can make it harder for hackers to get into your system.

Keep it under lock and key

Having a reliable cybersecurity system is essential if you do not want your private data and other valuable information from being leaked and stolen. Simultaneously, it keeps you one step ahead of unethical hackers and prevents significant damage your business may face. 

In this day and age, partnering with a reliable VoIP service provider like Planet Numbers UK can give your company the security it deserves. 

The post News first appeared on Planet Numbers.