How to Cheat at VoIP Security

by Thomas Porter, CISSP, CCNP, CCDA, CCS, Michael Gough

Overview

The Perfect Reference for the Multitasked SysAdmin
This is the perfect guide if VoIP engineering is not your specialty. It is the perfect introduction to VoIP security, covering exploit tools and how they can be used against VoIP (Voice over IP) systems. It gives the basics of attack methodologies used against the SIP and H.323 protocols as well as VoIP network infrastructure.
* VoIP Isn’t Just Another Data Protocol
IP telephony uses the Internet architecture, similar to any other data application. However, from a security administrator’s point of view, VoIP is different. Understand why.
* What Functionality Is Gained, Degraded, or Enhanced on a VoIP Network?
Find out the issues associated with quality of service, emergency 911 service, and the major benefits of VoIP.
* The Security Considerations of Voice Messaging
Learn about the types of security attacks you need to protect against within your voice messaging system.
* Understand the VoIP Communication Architectures
Understand what PSTN is and what it does as well as the H.323 protocol specification, and SIP Functions and features.
* The Support Protocols of VoIP Environments
Learn the services, features, and security implications of DNS, TFTP, HTTP, SNMP, DHCP, RSVP, SDP, and SKINNY.
* Securing the Whole VoIP Infrastructure
Learn about Denial-of-Service attacks, VoIP service disruption, call hijacking and interception, H.323-specific attacks, and SIP-specific attacks.
* Authorized Access Begins with Authentication
Learn the methods of verifying both the user identity and the device identity in order to secure a VoIP network.
* Understand Skype Security
Skype does not log a history like other VoIP solutions; understand the implications of conducting business over a Skype connection.
* Get the Basics of a VoIP Security Policy
Use a sample VoIP Security Policy to understand the components of a complete policy.

• Provides system administrators with hundreds of tips, tricks, and scripts to complete administration tasks more quickly and efficiently
• Short on theory, history, and technical data that ultimately is not helpful in performing their jobs
• Avoid the time drains associated with securing VoIP

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781597491693
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	04/01/2007
Series:	How to Cheat Series
Pages:	434
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Thomas Porter, Ph.D. (CISSP, CCNP, CCDA, CCSE/SA, ACE, IAM) served as the first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Avaya, and is currently the Lead Security Architect for Business Communication Consulting and Director of IT Security for the FIFA 2006 World Cup in Germany He is a past member of the IP Security Protocol Working Group, and the Executive Telecommunications Board of the State University of New York. He is currently a member of the IEEE, and OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards).

Michael Gough is host and webmaster of www.SkypeTips.com, which was launched in January 2005 and receives more than 100,000 hits per month, and www.VideoCallTips.com, which receives more than 30,000 hits per month. Michael writes articles on Skype and related issues. He also explains Skype’s options and instructions to users so that they can practically apply Skype at home and in the workplace. Michael also evaluates products used with Skype and provides feedback to the vendors on features and improvements to help drive the direction of Skype-related products. Michael is also the host and webmaster for www.VideoCallTips.com, a Web site focused on helping people understand how to make video calls to family and friends, and maintains ratings of the many video call solutions available.

Michael’s full-time employment is as a computer security consultant with 18 years’ experience in the computer technology field. Michael works for a Fortune 500 company, where he delivers security consulting services to their clients. Michael also presents for his company at many trade shows and conferences and works with associations and groups, advising agencies like the FBI on Skype security and the Center for Internet Security on wireless security.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction to VoIP Security
Chapter 2: The Hardware Infrastructure
Chapter 3: Architectures
Chapter 4: Support Protocols
Chapter 5: VoIP Threats
Chapter 6: Confirming User Identity
Chapter 7: Security Monitoring
Chapter 8: Segregating Network Traffic
Chapter 9: VoIP IETF Encryption Solutions
Chapter 10: Skype Security
Chapter 11: Skype Firewall Setup
Appendix A: Sample VoIP Security Policy

Editorial Reviews

The Barnes & Noble Review
VoIP technology is finding its way into all sorts of enterprise networks, where you -- the netadmin -- suddenly have to secure it. This desperately needed book is the solution.

The authors open with a concise (but superb) overview of VoIP technology, hardware infrastructure (from PBXs to media servers), architectures, and protocols. Once that's squared away, they outline the threats: from call hijacking and interception to attacks specific to H.323 and SIP. How do you deal with them? First, through effective authentication. Second, through active security monitoring. Third, by logically segregating VoIP network traffic (without compromising the cost savings of voice/data integration). Fourth, via encryption.

Porter and Gough walk you through all these techniques, then turn to the specific challenges presented by Skype (including blocking it -- not easy!). If you don't want to pay a consultant, get this book. Heck, get it even if you do. Bill Camarda, from the July 2007 Read Only