No matter where you live or what kind of a software and device you use, being hacked is definitely the worst thing possible – even worse than a complete system crash. Just imagining being listened to by a stranger and/or using you as a pawn for committing something illegal is enough the send shivers down anyone’s spine.
And unfortunately, whether the hacker was doing his/her “job” for fun or has malicious intents, nobody and nothing is safe from hackers. Yes, not even virtual phone systems.
However, there’s no need to panic: there are several ways to detect whether you are hacked or not and if not, how to prevent hackers to attack your system.
How to Recognize a Hacker Attack
First of all, recognize your enemy: some hackers block your phone system for fun (just to annoy you and other victims), but many hackers can launch DDoS attacks (to be ceased for ransom money), initiate premium rate calls (and incriminate you) or even just listen to your conversations with such intent the Party from Nineteen Eighty-Four would be proud of.
Regardless of the hackers’ identity or intent, there are multiple signs which always show their nasty faces when your phone system is hijacked:
- There are unknown/unwanted calls in your call history, mostly to and from international numbers.
- You get fake antivirus messages.
- Internet searches are directed to unwanted sites when the VoIP system is on.
- Webcams and microphones “activate themselves” without your involvement.
- Your phone bill skyrockets for seemingly no apparent reason.
How to Prevent (More) Hacks
It is easy to blame VoIP service providers for not protecting your systems (and to be honest, some service providers are indeed not cautious enough), but research shows that most of the hacks could have been prevented should the victims have changed the password of their routers the moment they got the device. All routers have ridiculously simple passwords by default, so changing them by a secure and non-obvious password builds a wall in front of the hackers. Speaking of walls, a good firewall is a must (it is easier to allow trusted traffic to go through than blocking malicious sites one by one) which becomes even stronger if you have a reliable, always up to date antivirus program – on all devices that use the internet. And, of course, if you don’t use a device, unplug/disable/deactivate it immediately.
There is also a neat trick you might not think of first: VPNs. Our article about using VPNs with your VoIP service explains how to place/receive calls for free or for a reduced price, posing as a virtual resident of another country, and how to prevent ISPs from blocking certain contents and applications. However, there is one thing we only mentioned briefly: internet traffic encryption. A VPN acts as an invisible cloak as you establish an encrypted connection with your VoIP system, which prevents anybody from tapping into your incoming and outgoing calls. And if nobody, including hackers, can’t see you, then chances are you will not be a victim of a nasty hacker attack anymore.
Best VoIP Systems of 2024
Rank | Provider | Info | Visit |
1
|
Editor's Choice 2024
|
|
|
2
|
|
||
3
|
|
More FAQs
- Can a VoIP Phone System Be Hacked?
- Can I Keep Using My Existing Phone Number?
- Can I Send Faxes with a VoIP System?
- Can I Use My Old Phone Hardware with My VoIP?
- Can VoIP Be Used for Texting?
- Do I Need Extra Equipment for a VoIP Phone?
- Do I Need to Turn on My Computer to Make VoIP Calls?
- Does a VoIP Phone Have Good Voice Quality?
- Does VoIP Use TCP or UDP?
- Does VoIP Work Over Wi-Fi?
- How Does VoIP Work?
- How Much Data Does VoIP Use?
- How Much Does VoIP Cost?
- Is a Virtual Phone System Safe?
- Is VoIP Reliable for Business?
- Is VoIP Worth It for Small Businesses?
- What Are the Benefits of a Virtual Phone System?
- What Is a PBX?
- What Is a Softphone?
- What Is a Virtual Phone System?
- Will My VoIP Slow Down My Internet Connection?
Get the Best Deals on Virtual Phone Systems
Our monthly newsletter delivers the latest virtual phone systems deals, trends and reviews directly into your inbox.