Internet phone calls next target for hackers

The latest Symantec Threat Report has identified VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as the next area that will come under attack from hackers. VoIP allows voice telephone calls to be routed over the Internet, thus saving substantial amounts of money in call costs.

VoIP looks set to be the next revolutionary technology that will gain the attention of the world’s hacker community.

Attacks could include audio spam that clogs voicemail boxes with unwanted messages.

Caller ID spoofing so it appears that the caller is from a legitimate source such as a bank, and voice phishing that attempts to con people out of personal data that can be used to infiltrate bank accounts. Ollie Whitehouse, technical manager at Symantec`s research labs, told the BBC: “While there are currently very few reported attacks directed at VoIP systems, Symantec believes it`s only a matter of time before attackers target it more intensely.”