Awareness in the area of phone hacking remains minimal despite the scale of the problem.
Losses due to global telecom fraud amount to an estimated $72-80 billion annually, according to figures from the Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) Telecom Fraud Survey 2009. Subscription/ID theft accounted for around $22 billion, compromised PBX voicemail systems for $15 billion and premium rate service fraud $4.5 billion. The more money criminals make, the more they can invest in increasing their activities. To exacerbate the problem, 90 per cent of resellers still don’t fully appreciate the security risks of IP telephony. Unlike Mason Infotech who take security very seriously, many resellers aren’t informing clients of the risks or advising them to run checks.
If someone hacks into a voice network, they are potentially able to listen to calls and get information such as bank details and other confidential company data.The extent of this problem is not fully quantified because it’s in nobody’s interest to admit that they’re vulnerable. The perpetrators don’t want to be found out, and the victims are either unaware of the source of the information leakage, or if they become aware of it, they simply don’t want their problems and security failings to be publicised. Proving the extent of the problem, therefore, is difficult, but there is enough information to show that phone hacking is not just a potential risk, but a real one.
Premium Rate Call fraud is probably one of the best comparisons. Most people conceal any problems they have with it. There’s little discussion about the nature and size of toll fraud in the UK, despite the fact that many people are aware of how much toll fraud has affected them. There is information, but nobody wants it given out because nobody wants to be responsible for it.
Phone hacking is also an easy route into data hacking and is becoming more common for a number of reasons. Tools are freely available to carry out these crimes, and a lack of prosecutions encourages criminals to perpetuate the crime. The hacking can be carried out from outside the domain and there are large sums of money involved. In many cases, it’s easier to carry out these acts in the environment of voice rather than data.
Smartphone security is also an area of increasing concern. Research by getsafeonline.org shows that approximately one in five owners of smartphone devices can expect to lose or have them stolen at some point. Smartphones contain a huge amount of sensitive personal and work-related data. They can connect to company networks, potentially allowing access if phones are lost or stolen. But, no need for concern as there are security solutions available that will help manage and protect smartphones, as well as minimise the problems if they are lost.
Mason Infotech are experts in the fields of both voice and data security and are able to add security solutions to clients’ IT and telecoms solutions. Customers expect a duty of care from their telecoms provider and Mason Infotech will ensure that, wherever possible, clients are not left exposed to fraud.
Call us today for FREE advice on the best solution for you.
