Our blog covers a variety of topics related to VoIP technology . We publish articles explaining how this technology works, how it is implemented , how it works in various market sectors, which devices are compatible , advanced features and functionalities available, and much more. In this article, we will talk about voice encryption in VoIP calls, its importance for security , and the methods used.
In short, VoIP (Voice over IP) transforms voice into data and enables it to be usa phone number lists transmitted over the Internet. Voice traffic is compressed, encrypted and encapsulated in data packets that are sent over the IP network.
If data is not encrypted, data packets are susceptible to hackers who can intercept them and reconstruct them into the original conversation. Without encryption, communication can be affected by eavesdropping, tampering, and message forgery. There are different methods of encrypting voice communications over IP networks, as we will see below.
Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that ensures privacy between communicating applications and their users on the Internet. It allows applications in which the client interacts with the server to communicate over a secure network.
"A TLS session consists of two phases: the handshake phase and the data transfer phase. During the handshake phase, which occurs at the beginning of each connection, information about encryption keys is exchanged to define the desired security settings before the actual voice transmission begins. The voice stream itself can be encrypted using the DES or 3DES encryption methods during data transfer and voice call setup.
Transport Layer Security with SRTP and SRTCP
RTP is used in conjunction with the RTP Control Protocol (RTCP), both responsible for transmission. While RTP carries out the transmission of media such as audio and video, RTCP is used to monitor statistics and quality of service (QoS) and assists in the transmission of data.
The RTP and RTCP protocols, which are responsible for real-time media transmission in VoIP, also have their variants to provide security: SRTP and SRTCP.
The Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) is the encrypted version of the usual media transport protocol, the Real Time Protocol (RTP). SRTP ensures that the payload of transmitted packets is encrypted. Before any media stream is sent, cryptographic keys are negotiated between both parties involved in the communication. The Secure Realtime Transport Control Protocol (SRTCP) also provides encryption for controlling data delivery.