VoIP spam
Encyclopedia
VoIP spam is unwanted, automatically dialled, pre-recorded phone calls using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It is similar to E-mail spam
. It is sometimes referred to by the acronym
SPIT (SPam over Internet Telephony).
Voice over IP
systems, like e-mail
and other Internet applications, are susceptible to abuse by malicious parties who initiate unsolicited and unwanted communications. Telemarketers
, prank call
ers, and other telephone system abusers are likely to target VoIP systems increasingly, particularly if VoIP supplants conventional telephony.
The underlying technology driving this threat is Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP). This technology has received significant support from most major telecommunication vendors, and is showing signs of becoming the industry standard for voice, video and other interactive forms of communication such as instant messaging and gaming.
Similar rules to email systems that block unsolicited mail will also prevent unsolicited voice and video communication. This can also be compared to how chat applications prevent unwanted users from viewing your availability or state of presence by using “privacy” options.
E-mail spam
Email spam, also known as junk email or unsolicited bulk email , is a subset of spam that involves nearly identical messages sent to numerous recipients by email. Definitions of spam usually include the aspects that email is unsolicited and sent in bulk. One subset of UBE is UCE...
. It is sometimes referred to by the acronym
Acronym and initialism
Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial components in a phrase or a word. These components may be individual letters or parts of words . There is no universal agreement on the precise definition of the various terms , nor on written usage...
SPIT (SPam over Internet Telephony).
Voice over IP
Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol is a family of technologies, methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission techniques for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol networks, such as the Internet...
systems, like e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
and other Internet applications, are susceptible to abuse by malicious parties who initiate unsolicited and unwanted communications. Telemarketers
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
, prank call
Prank call
A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank phone calls began to gain an America-wide following over a period of many years, as they gradually became a staple of the obscure and amusing cassette tapes traded amongst musicians, sound engineers, and media traders...
ers, and other telephone system abusers are likely to target VoIP systems increasingly, particularly if VoIP supplants conventional telephony.
The underlying technology driving this threat is Session Initiation Protocol
Session Initiation Protocol
The Session Initiation Protocol is an IETF-defined signaling protocol widely used for controlling communication sessions such as voice and video calls over Internet Protocol . The protocol can be used for creating, modifying and terminating two-party or multiparty sessions...
(SIP). This technology has received significant support from most major telecommunication vendors, and is showing signs of becoming the industry standard for voice, video and other interactive forms of communication such as instant messaging and gaming.
Similar rules to email systems that block unsolicited mail will also prevent unsolicited voice and video communication. This can also be compared to how chat applications prevent unwanted users from viewing your availability or state of presence by using “privacy” options.