During the recent Amphion Forum, a conference where device and mobile security experts from different disciplines gather, Ang Cui, a fifth-year grad student from the Columbia University Intrusion Detection Systems Lab, demonstrated how connected devices such as networked printers and VoIP phones can be easily hijacked to give intruders virtually unlimited remote access to extremely sensitive information and allow them to eavesdrop on private conversations. The Amphion Forum is hosted by Mocana, a leader in device and mobile security.

Using a common Cisco-branded VoIP phone, Cui inserted and then removed a small external circuit board from the phone’s Ethernet port—something Cui asserted could be easily accomplished by a company visitor left unattended for a few seconds—and starting using his own smartphone to capture every word spoken near the VoIP phone, even though it was still ‘on-hook.’ While he did not specify the precise vulnerability, Cui said it allowed him to patch the phone’s software with arbitrary pieces of code, and that this allowed him to turn the Off-Hook Switch into what he called a “funtenna.” According to Cui, once one phone is compromised, the entire network of phones is vulnerable. Cui later said he could also perform a similar exploit remotely, without the need to insert a circuit board at all.

Vertex Telecom has selected RedShift Networks to provide their Unified Communications, Collaborations, VoIP and Video UCTM Security technology; which is currently being switched on Vertex Telecom VOIP/SIP network. Additionally, Vertex Telecom has selected RedShift Networks to develop three custom program models for wholesale into three sectors: Financial, Healthcare and Government. The three additional models will work in conjunction with the “core” and “edge” products installed at Vertex Telecom.

RedShift Networks has deployed its UCTM appliances as a first step to further protect and lock down the “core” and “edge” of Vertex networks. According to Amitava Mukherjee, president, CEO and founder of Redshift Networks, “Our UCTM appliance security solution includes a patented behavioral learning engine that automatically gathers network intelligence identifying potentially dangerous vulnerabilities. Coupled with Redshift’s global threat signature database and blacklisting service, Vertex now has a comprehensive UC/VOIP threat management solution built into its core network.”

netTALK.com announces the launch of new privacy features: Caller ID Block and Call Blocking. These are being added to netTALK’s long list of free features, which is already overflowing with value and convenience for netTALK DUO digital phone users. All you need is a high speed internet connection and any standard home phone.

The new privacy features are now fully-integrated into all netTALK DUO digital phone service accounts, and using them could not be more simple or easy.

Sangoma announces the release of its Vega 400 SBC stand-alone Session Border Controller appliance,. The solution is designed to provide seamless connectivity between VoIP networks and SIP Trunking connections, while delivering security and policy enforcement to ensure call quality and reliability.

Located between disparate IP networks or systems, the SBC helps customers contain and control vulnerabilities that can be exploited in SIP-based networks to misappropriate or misuse VoIP resources and systems. The Vega 400 SBC provides encryption of media and signaling, as well as call access control, secure network logon and secure management interfaces. In addition to the security functions, the SBC provides a broad range of intermediation and core VoIP capabilities necessary to ensure proper call handling and call quality.

ECG announces the success of FraudStopper, a new toll-fraud detection system optimized for VoIP providers. FraudStopper was deployed in June 2011 at a nationwide CLEC based in New York City. The system has successfully detected numerous incidents of attempted theft of service, saving the CLEC tens of thousands of dollars in losses for international termination.

VoIP Toll Fraud became a major issue for many carriers in November 2010, when thieves began using the "SIPVicious" security scanning tool to search the Internet for VoIP service that could be stolen. ECG estimates that over US $1M in international termination service has been stolen by criminals targeting VoIP service providers in the United States. Some individual incidents have amounted to more than US $160,000.

Most fraud detection systems have simplistic thresholds to identify risky behavior. If a customer appears to make a large number of international calls, the system will alert automatically. But if that same customer routinely makes a large number of international calls and pays for the service, it could simply be their normal course of business. Such simplistic schemes cannot handle the wide diversity among VoIP customers, some of whom make no international calls, while others make numerous calls.

VoIP Supply is pleased to announce a refreshed Grandstream Networks product line and the addition of a brand new category, Grandstream IP Surveillance.

Making customer research easier by revamping and reorganizing Grandstream products with newly segmented Grandstream Video Phones and Grandstream IP PBX appliance categories, VoIP Supply has also added the Grandstream IP Surveillance line featuring IP cameras for network-based surveillance.

Just like Grandstream’s VoIP devices, Grandstream IP Surveillance products offer the same broad interoperability, enhanced features, and flexibility at price-performance competitiveness allowing easy entry into IP network-based security systems.

Cellcrypt has launched Cellcrypt Mobile for Android, a version of its encrypted voice calling application that runs on Android devices operating over Wi-Fi, GSM and CDMA wireless networks.

Cellcrypt Mobile provides encrypted voice calling for off-the-shelf cell phones using government-certified security in an easy-to-use downloadable application that makes highly secure calling as easy as making or placing a normal phone call. It is a software-only solution that uses the IP data channel of cellular (2G, 3G, 4G), Wi-Fi and satellite networks and can be deployed to personnel anywhere in the world in as little as 10 minutes.

Dialogic announced that microDATA selected Dialogic to support its Next Generation 9-1-1 services. Through its use of Dialogic technology, microDATA provides reliable call routing support for high volumes of calls and other forms of communication like SMS and data messaging, and will be able to roll out its NG9-1-1 services quickly while complying with ever-evolving industry standards.

microDATA also selected Dialogic’s technology in order to poise itself to handle increased data and information sharing requirements for the future. Advancements in communication technologies have made some existing 9-1-1 systems outdated. Using Dialogic’s technology, microDATA works with phone companies to update legacy networks to IP-based services as well as to enable 9-1-1 systems to receive packet-based voice data and field other forms of communication like SMS, data messaging and video conferencing.

NextAlarm announces the launch of an extensive marketing campaign targeted at the alarm industry. The company's VoIPAlarm brand, focused on sales to alarm companies, will receive a push from well-known industry veterans Tom Christ and Terry Gurley. A series of biweekly webinars has begun to educate dealers about the product.

Christ and Gurley, with over twenty collective years of experience in the alarm industry, have previously built dealer networks of over 800 companies within 18 months. They specialize in high-tech products in the security space and are expert in training alarm dealers to identify, sell to, and support customers of technologies like VoIPAlarm's alarm broadband adapter.

For those of you looking to replace PSTN connectivity, so you can take full advantage of VoIP, giving you much cheaper local, toll-free, domestic and international long-distance services, then SIP trunking can help you save money. That’s why it’s increasingly popular.

SIP trunks eliminate costly time-division multiplexing trunks and gateways, allowing calls to be routed over the carrier’s backbone and use the same IP connection for all communications.

But the caveat is that it needs to be secured. With most VoIP systems, the PSTN serves as a barrier between a company and the outside world, minimising the risk of attack from the Internet. If SIP trunking replaces the PSTN, then that barrier is removed and your phone system becomes vulnerable to IP-based attacks through the SIP trunk.

Ooma introduced its 911 Notifications feature, radically advancing critical communications during a home emergency situation. With the 911 Notifications feature, Ooma Premier subscribers can enter up to three email addresses or mobile phone numbers into the 911 Notifications area of the “My Ooma” online control panel. The Ooma 911 Notifications feature will then send alert messages to specified recipients the very moment 911 is called from the subscriber’s Ooma phone number. When safety is a top priority, the 911 Notifications feature from Ooma fits the bill like no other.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Mobile VoIP - Is it Really a Threat to Operator Voice Revenues?" report to their offering.

This study looks at the changing landscape of the mobile VoIP market; the main over the top players, the new entrants together with what they bring, and how the operators are reacting. The technical challenges are assessed, and an analysis as to the level of threat mobile VoIP brings to operator revenues is made. It concludes with a scenario for the development of this emerging market.

Sipera Systems announced that its award-winning UC-Sec enterprise communications security solution is undergoing compatibility testing with McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator security management platform.

When the testing is completed, security managers can gain visibility into the entire spectrum of IP-based business communications -- including voice, video, data and web applications -- from a single central management point. This enables security managers to have unprecedented control over the security of voice-over-IP, IP video conferencing, SIP trunks, collaboration applications and other UC applications.

The SANS Institute will be teaching the first European session of its new Security 540: VoIP Security course at the upcoming SANS Secure Europe event in Amsterdam this May. The 6-day course which debuted last year in Sacramento has proven popular and is already at 50% capacity.

“Voice over IP is a rapidly growing area due to the huge cost saving potential but organisations often fail to consider the security impact,” explains Paul Henry, one of the world's foremost information security and computer forensic experts with more than 20 years' experience.

Henry points to examples such as arrests made In Budapest and London last year of 30 members of an organised criminal gang that allegedly stole 11 million Euro’s through VoIP toll fraud. The gang used thousands of stolen VoIP account details to make 1.5 million calls to premium rate numbers which, in turn paid the gang a percentage of the inflated call charges. Other cases like Edwin Andres Pena who was sentenced to 10 years in jail in a US Federal Court for stealing and reselling VoIP call credits are part of a growing trend. “The automated billing mechanisms of VoIP services using direct debit or credit cards make these prized targets for criminals who often have difficulty selling stolen data,” Henry adds.

Voip-Pal.Com announces the availability for North America Android users of its PointsPhone Platinum™ Suite package which bundles an Antivirus Program. The Antivirus Program has been designed specifically to guard smartphones against spyware, malware and viruses.

The PointsPhone Platinum™ Suite is now available in North America only for all Google Android smartphones, including the new high-performing Motorola ATRIX™ and Samsung's Galaxy 4G™. The Platinum Suite will include a one year subscription to a state-of-art antivirus program, substantial domestic and international airtime minutes, enhanced Voice Mail features and a free North America phone number. The antivirus program is truly comprehensive, providing automatic real-time protection against viruses, spyware and other malware. Memory cards are automatically scanned when they are inserted to prevent transfer of malware and viruses. A GPS locating system is available to track down lost or stolen smartphones. A Remote Backup feature is available to backup all data stored on the smartphone in case the smartphone is lost or stolen.