| John Ashcroft, Attorney General, in remarks at the | | | | expectations (e.g., quality of sound). |
| High Technology Crime Investigation Association 2004 | | | | The majority of VoIP computer phones require a |
| International Training Conference held on September | | | | minimum of 20 kps (kilobytes per second) of |
| 13, 2004 stated, "We have seen worms and viruses | | | | bandwidth (information carrying capacity) for data |
| attack...disrupting basic services...And with the increased | | | | packets to travel across the Internet, which is why |
| use of the Internet and especially peer-to-peer | | | | most require a minimum high speed Internet connection |
| networking, we have seen malicious code spread | | | | in order to function without corrupting the quality of the |
| more quickly and infect more personal computers than | | | | voice. |
| ever before. The cost of these worms, viruses, and | | | | Although in the minority, a few VoIP computer phone |
| denial-of-service attacks...reaches into the billions of | | | | providers, some of which are reputable, require a |
| dollars." | | | | minimum of less than 10 kps (kilobytes per second) of |
| In an article written by Daniel A. Morris, Assistant US | | | | bandwidth (information carrying capacity), which is why |
| Attorney, Computer and Telecommunications | | | | their services can be used with dial-up connections or |
| Coordinator with the District of Nebraska stated in | | | | high speed (e.g., cable), satellite, and wireless |
| "Tracking a Computer Hacker", that the "The modern | | | | connections. |
| thief can steal more with a computer than with a gun. | | | | Over 90% of VoIP services operate using industry |
| Tomorrow's terrorist may be able to do more damage | | | | standard codec (encryption codes) and industry |
| with a keyboard than with a bomb." | | | | standard protocols. |
| Ralph Echemendia, head of Intense School which trains | | | | Computers are assigned a different numeric Internet |
| executives regarding network security risks, stated | | | | Protocol (IP) address while on line, which is analogous |
| that "Telecom providers are one of the main targets | | | | to mail where you would have an identity location with |
| for malicious attackers because they control | | | | your street number, city, state and zip code. |
| communications for everybody." | | | | Relative to a protocol, the IP (Internet Protocol) |
| Sophisticated hackers have learned how to tap into | | | | address is a number that identifies the user and their |
| sensitive information traveling on the Internet, and their | | | | computer. Industry standard codec and industry |
| focal point is communication. | | | | standard protocols are open and interpretable to the |
| How is this possible? | | | | public. Unscrupulous hackers frequently launch their |
| It is fairly simple. First, you should be aware that email | | | | attacks against VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) |
| services operate off of email servers, and web | | | | services that operate on these publicly open and |
| services operate off of web servers. Both email | | | | interpretable standards. |
| servers and web servers are built for data and not for | | | | Peer-to-peer services, as well as over 90% of all VoIP |
| voice. | | | | computer phone services, operate on industry |
| Because VoIP has voice, it requires a system that will | | | | standard codec and industry standard protocols. In |
| convert the voice into data packets to travel across | | | | other words, their lines are not secure. |
| the Internet, and then convert back to voice at | | | | IM services also create targeted vulnerability to vicious |
| destination. However, VoIP should not be considered | | | | hacker attacks by a simple monitoring program made |
| just another application residing on a data network, as | | | | available that enables electronic eavesdropping. |
| it necessitates a real time service due to performance | | | | |