Critical voice network security analysis and new approach for securing Voice over IP Communications

Voice networks evolved from the fixed traditional telephone system, to mobile and wireless networks and now towards a converged voice and data infrastructure. This convergence is based on the spread of the Internet Protocol, where VoIP is developing. Due to IP network characteristics, hackers are able to compromise and take control of different aspects of IP telephony such as signaling information and media packets. Security and privacy become mandatory requirements for this application area. IP telephony requires security services such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, non-replay and non-repudiation. The available solutions are generic and do not respect voice specificities and constraints. Thus, QoS of the voice is affected by delay, jitter, and packet loss. In this paper, we present the security mechanisms as provided in the existing fixed, wireless and converged voice networks, outline major security weaknesses in these different environments and end this paper by a proposition to secure voice over IP packets drawing inspiration from the existing voice security solutions.