VOIPshield finds vulnerabilities

In its new research, VOIPshield states there are security vulnerabilities in VOIP and unified communications systems, says Net Security.

These vulnerabilities affect applications that use media stream protocols like real-time transport protocol (RTP), a popular standardised packet format for delivering audio and instant messaging over the Internet. Applications that use RTP to deliver the message content are vulnerable to attack.

The Microsoft products affected are Office Communications Server 2007, Office Communicator and Windows Live Messenger. These products deliver software-powered VOIP, presence, instant messaging and audio/video/Web conferencing functionality to end-users. Microsoft estimates over 250 million computers worldwide run these applications.

The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has warned illegal VOIP dealers they will lose their ISP licences, according to Bdnews24.

"We have given international gateway licences to energise the telecoms sector. IP telephony licences will be given soon, but the sector will be affected if the illegal VOIP continues," said BTRC chairman Manzurul Alam.

An unnamed commission official said any ISP found engaged in illegal VOIP activities would lose its ISP licence immediately.

Fluke Networks has added VOIP phone functionalities to the MetroScope carrier Ethernet analyser, reports Market Watch.

With the added internal VOIP calling capability, the MetroScope analyser now offers service providers the ability to get real-time results from actual VOIP calls made over a carrier Ethernet line. This will make VOIP troubleshooting faster and more efficient.

Further on, carrier Ethernet service providers will gain the ability to test, monitor and troubleshoot VOIP calls and traffic in real-time, with unprecedented insight into line and call quality.