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Phone Hacking: How Your Business Phone System Can Help (Or Hurt)

Hacking is something that’s most commonly associated with computers, but the reality is that much of the technology we use on a daily basis is vulnerable to hacking. That includes your office phones. So, are your phones vulnerable? Here’s how your business phone system could be helping (or hurting) you when it comes to hacking.
Why Bother Hacking Phones?
First off, you may be wondering why anyone would even bother to hack into your phone system. What could they possibly stand to gain from this? Well, to name a few:

  • Phishing: You may have heard of phishing, but did you know that it can be done via phone? Hackers can easily tap into your phones in order to make calls posing as an authority figure.
  • Eavesdropping: Information can be very valuable to a hacker, even information you wouldn’t think would be of much consequence. That’s why they often tap into phones in order to eavesdrop.
  • Spam calls: Hackers will often hack into phone systems in order to make expensive international spam calls that you’ll have to foot the bill for.?

These are just a few of the ways that a hacker could use your phone system towards their nefarious ends. In many cases, this sort of fraud can escape your attention for months or even years. It’s easy to overlook a few international calls and how would you even know if someone is listening in on your conversations?

Is Your Business Phone System Vulnerable?
So, what kind of phone systems can be hacked? Is yours safe? VoIP phone systems, given that they operate over the internet, are certainly vulnerable to hackers in many ways. Cell phones make great targets for hackers as well. You may think that landline phones are immune to this sort of tampering, but hacking a landline phone is often very simple.

The reality is that most phones can be hacked given the right circumstances. There are even cases of people hacking into payphones. That doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. In fact, there are many ways in which you can guard your phone system against tampering. One of the most effective ways of combating fraudulent phone activity is with call analytics.

How Call Analytics Can Help
One way to combat phone hacking is by choosing a system with call analytics. Call analytics makes gathering data about your calls easy. With analytics, you can easily pinpoint who is making calls, how long calls last, and where calls are coming from/going to. Many systems also include automatic notices for fraudulent activity, allowing you to react before things get out of hand.

Don’t Let Phone Hacking Limit Your Options
VoIP phone systems may be a bigger target for hackers, but the benefits of upgrading to a more modern business phone system generally outweigh the risks. Modern VoIP offerings also come with a host of security features, including the aforementioned call analytics, that can make them even more secure than traditional systems.

At Atlantic Communications our team has decades of experience as a full-service business phone provider. We’ll be there to offer you our expertise every step of the way, from choosing your new phone system to installing it. Please, contact us today to learn more or schedule an evaluation for your business.