Is VoIP/wireless safe and secure?

fordmanchester

Hello

I recently posted in the "Telephones" forum as I need a second phone line and had heard that VoIP may be a solution.

I was given really helpful advice there, and was told that I will need a router, but I have never had anything "wireless" before and am rather concerned about how safe and secure it is (I currently just connect my PC to the internet via a USB ADSL modem).

I've read that it is possible that if wireless hardware isn't properly protected then neighbours or someone within a certain radius could hack into your computer quite easily. (My PC itself does have a firewall).

Would this be the same for VoIP telephone calls also, could someone close by listen in to those?

If I had the choice I think that I'd rather not go down the wireless route at all, even if it had its own firewall or other protection. Could someone please tell me if there is an alternative to using a wireless router....... is there such a thing as a "wired" router?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Marty_J

fordmanchester wrote: »

Hello

Hi there.

I was given really helpful advice there, and was told that I will need a router, but I have never had anything "wireless" before and am rather concerned about how safe and secure it is (I currently just connect my PC to the internet via a USB ADSL modem).

I've read that it is possible that if wireless hardware isn't properly protected then neighbours or someone within a certain radius could hack into your computer quite easily. (My PC itself does have a firewall).

Yes, it is possible, but there are steps you can take such as encryption, restricting the specific devices that can access the network, and not broadcasting the network name, that make it more difficult. There are plenty of totally unprotected networks out there, so I imagine if someone wanted to hack into a wireless network, they would choose one of them.

I've been using wireless for years and never had any problems, but I'm getting increasingly suspicious of the guy at the end of the garden with a laptop...;)

Would this be the same for VoIP telephone calls also, could someone close by listen in to those?

Many VoIP providers encrypt the calls to prevent others intercepting them. Skype features encryption for instance.

And in order for them to attempt to listen in, they'd need access to your network first.

If I had the choice I think that I'd rather not go down the wireless route at all, even if it had its own firewall or other protection. Could someone please tell me if there is an alternative to using a wireless router....... is there such a thing as a "wired" router?

There certainly is. You just connect your computer(s) to it with an ethernet cable and off you go. Or alternatively, you can usually turn the wireless part of a wireless router off. That way you'd have it if you ever decided to start using it.

fordmanchester

Thank you so much Marty J for your helpful reply.

I had no idea that I could connect my PC to a router with an ethernet cable (I need to check that it has and ethernet port), or that I could turn the wireless part of a wireless router off. That would be brilliant.

My ISP (NewNet) can provide VoIP and they sell a router called "SpeedTouch 780WL Wireless ADSL/VoIP router" which costs around £95. They say that any phone can be plugged straight into it, including analogue phones. Their offer is that if you purchase the router from them, you save £12 on setting up VoIP. I don't know if this is a good deal or not!

You have already been a great help, but I hope you don't mind me asking if there is a particular make or model of router that you would recommend?

Many thanks again.

Marty_J

fordmanchester wrote: »

My ISP (NewNet) can provide VoIP and they sell a router called "SpeedTouch 780WL Wireless ADSL/VoIP router" which costs around £95. They say that any phone can be plugged straight into it, including analogue phones. Their offer is that if you purchase the router from them, you save £12 on setting up VoIP. I don't know if this is a good deal or not!

You have already been a great help, but I hope you don't mind me asking if there is a particular make or model of router that you would recommend?

I've always used Netgear routers and never had any problems. I'm sure others will have recommendations of their own.

The only Thomson equipment I've used was a Speedtouch USB modem that every ISP seemed to give away years ago. I've never used their routers, so I can't really comment. There are some reviews of that particular model here:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/networking/review/2006/09/11/Thomson-SpeedTouch-780WL-Wireless-Router/p1

http://www.techworld.com/mobility/reviews/index.cfm?reviewid=480

Zen sell it for £69.99 with free delivery though, so £95 is overpriced even if you are saving a further £12.