Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – The Hacker’s Cloak of Invisibility

Operators of large-scale customer engagement channels are increasingly at risk if they continue to depend solely on traditional PSTN proxy-based defense techniques such as ANI Spoof Detection, Caller ID validation, and Device ID authentication. These conventional mechanisms once considered effective tools for validating the credibility of inbound calls or connected devices, are now easily compromised, exposing critical vulnerabilities.

VoIP, (Voice over Internet Protocol), has drastically transformed the telephony landscape. It offers notable advantages such as cost-efficiency, enhanced call quality, and greater accessibility over the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The rise in fast broadband access has only amplified its preference among both consumers and businesses. However, this shift hasn’t gone unnoticed by hackers and cybercriminals, who now exploit VoIP as an effective attack vector, bypassing traditional methods of validating the legitimacy of a call.

Is Caller ID reliable?

Caller ID, a ubiquitous feature, displays the caller’s phone number or name on the recipient’s device, providing some context to the incoming call. Is it reliability is suspect due to multiple factors:

1. ANI Spoofing: A technique where Caller ID information is manipulated to mislead the recipient.
2. VoIP and Internet-Based Calls: VoIP calls made over the internet can easily alter Caller ID information, a loophole frequently used by hackers.
3. Legitimate Call Routing: The complexities of call routing can result in inaccurate Caller ID information.
4. Caller ID Name Manipulation: Names displayed on Caller ID can be falsely presented, leading to mistaken identity.
5. Third-Party Spoofing Services: These can be misused to falsify Caller ID information.

Is Device ID reliable?

Device ID authentication, another traditional mechanism, offers a unique identifier for a device, often used for “invisible” authentication. However, these can be tampered with through methods like Device ID spoofing, use of emulators, exploitation of platform vulnerabilities, or man-in-the-middle attacks, putting its reliability into question.

It’s also important to recognize that VoIP presents other attractive features for hackers:

1. Geographic Flexibility: Enables hackers to select phone numbers from various regions, enhancing the success rate of social engineering attacks.
2. Encryption and Secure Communication: VoIP encryption makes it hard for detection systems to analyze call content or detect suspicious activity.
3. Global Accessibility: VoIP can be used from anywhere, making it harder to trace the origin of attacks.
4. Anonymity and Disposable Accounts: Temporary accounts can be created for malicious activities, making it harder to trace back the source.

In summary, operators of large customer engagement channels should be put on alert that they are at risk if they rely on legacy PSTN proxy-based defense methods such as ANI Spoof Detection, Caller ID validation, and also Device ID authentication to validate the efficacy of an inbound call or a connected device since these proxy methods are no longer effective detection and prevention tools and are easily compromised. 

Due to multiple limitations and vulnerabilities, neither Caller ID, ANI Spoofing Detection, or Device ID can be relied upon as a definitive indicator of a caller’s identity or intentions. Hackers and cybercriminals will always use the path of least resistance and knowing that they can easily penetrate these legacy prevention defenses will only increase the volume and types of attack. It is crucial for organizations to move to the latest defense capabilities, including advanced generative AI deepfake detection, and next-generation omnichannel voice biometrics, in order to ensure that they can protect their reputations and their customers.

Validsoft’s solution, Voice Verity™, is an advanced generative AI deepfake detector solution. Together with next-generation omnichannel voice biometrics, these technologies ensure that institutions, enterprises, and government organizations can handle calls with integrity and trust. Unlike legacy solutions that attempt to authenticate metadata associated with a call, rather than the actual caller, ValidSoft authenticates the caller on three criteria: is the caller live and not a recording; is the caller human and not a machine and is the caller who they say they are and not an imposter or impersonator?

These modern solutions equip organizations with the capabilities to detect and thwart the latest attack vectors in the Call Center, on the IVR, and on the IVA, offering a strong defense against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats.