Are Your Calls More Secure With Landline or With VoIP? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Email, Messaging, & Video Calls > Texting & Messaging 141 141 people found this article helpful

Are Your Calls More Secure With Landline or With VoIP?

Compare the privacy of calls on landline and VoIP phones

By Nadeem Unuth Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor University of Mauritius Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 4, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section Landline vs VoIP Security Why Landline Phones Are Harder to Hack Use VoIP With Encryption With the increased interest in privacy these days, it is no surprise people are concerned about their phone conversations. One reason is the increasing number of tools of communication and the accompanying number of vulnerabilities and threats. Another reason is the number of privacy scandals that relate to phone communication. Maciej Frolow / Getty Images

Landline vs VoIP Security

If you wonder which is the safer mode of communication—landline phone or VoIP app—you need to understand that neither of these methods of communication is completely safe and private. Authorities can wiretap your conversations in both settings. Hackers can too, but hackers find it more difficult to hack and eavesdrop on a telephone line than on VoIP. This also applies to authorities. Of these two methods, landline phone calls are a more secure option.

Why Landline Phones Are Harder to Hack

Landline phone calls transfer data from the source to the destination through a method called circuit switching. Before communication and transfer, a path is determined and dedicated to communication between the source and destination, between the caller and call recipient. This path is called a circuit, and this circuit remains closed for this call until one of the correspondents hangs up. VoIP calls take place through packet switching, in which the voice data, which is digital, is broken down into labeled chunks called packets. These packets are sent over the network (the internet) and find their way to their destination. The packets may take different routes from one another, and there is no predetermined circuit. When the packets reach the destination node, they are reordered and reassembled. The difference between circuit and packet switching explains the difference in cost between Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) landline phone calls and VoIP calls, which are often free. It is easier for hackers and eavesdroppers to intercept VoIP data, thereby breaching your privacy. The packets are disseminated over the internet through unsecured channels and are easily intercepted at any node. Moreover, since the data is digital, it can be stored and manipulated in ways that PSTN data cannot. VoIP is more advanced and sophisticated than PSTN, and the avenues for hacking and breaching privacy are more sophisticated. Many of the nodes through which the VoIP packets pass are not optimized for VoIP communications, which renders the channel vulnerable.

Use VoIP With Encryption

One way to be less concerned about your privacy during VoIP phone calls and text messaging is to use an app and service that offers encryption and enhanced security. Apps like Skype and WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption to keep your VoIP call private. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching How Much Does It Cost to Use Skype? How to Stop Echoes in Voice Calls How to Block Political Robocalls Connect All Your Home Phones to Your VoIP Service Best Free Internet Phone Calls Apps (October 2022) How to Get Started With VoIP Can I Call Alexa From My Phone? What Is VoIP Latency, and Can It Be Reduced? LINE vs. WhatsApp Make Free Calls on Your iPad How to Record a Phone Call for a Podcast How to Encrypt Data on an Android or iOS Device The 5 Best Phone Adapters (ATAs) of 2022 What Is the Free Mtalk App? Free and Cheap VoIP Services for iPhone Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies