Handbook of Information Security: Threats, Vulnerabilities, Prevention, Detection, and Management, Volume 3

Fixed-Line Telephone System Vulnerabilities

Mak Ming Tak and Xu Yan, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Zenith Y. W. Law, JustSolve Consulting, Hong Kong

Introduction

Implications of a Secure Fixed-Line Telephone System

Economic Implications

Political Implications

Social Implications

Financial Implications

Vulnerabilities of Traditional Fixed-Line Telephone Systems

Customer Equipment Vulnerabilities

Cabling Vulnerabilities

Telephone Switching Facilities Vulnerabilities

Telephone Signaling Protocol and Standard Vulnerabilities

Value-Added Voice Service Facility Vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities of the Emerging Telephone Technology

Voice Over Internet Protocol

Countermeasures for Telephone System Vulnerabilities

Countermeasures from the Legal Perspective: The U.S. Case

Countermeasures from the Managerial Perspective

Conclusion

Glossary

Cross References

References

Further Reading

INTRODUCTION

Since their invention in 1876, fixed-line telephone networks have evolved from copper wires to a web of sophisticated fiber optic and digital devices linking people and businesses all over the world. At present, the voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service is accelerating its pace of diffusion. Owing to growing scale and increasing complexity, the fixed-line telephone system represents serious risk-management issues. The frequency with which unauthorized individuals hack into telephone systems is alarming. As portals to the world community, vulnerabilities inherent in fixed-line ...