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The Bad Guys Are Listening… Preventing Desktop Phone Hacks

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Many offices have IP phones, but unknown to most users is that hackers can actually listen to everything that’s going on in the room – whether or not you are on a phone call.

Hackers from a remote location have been able to exploit some IP phones’ vulnerable software and firmware to gain access – even phones sitting behind a firewall.

Here’s some of the mischief hackers do when they ‘tap’ your IP phone:

  • Listen in on your phone conversations and identify who you’re calling.
  • With access to the phone’s microphone, hackers can feed the conversation into a speech-to-text engine and post the transcript to social media.
  • Since the microphone never shuts off, hackers can listen to everything the phone hears, such as conversations in a company’s board room.

IP phones are basically computers and manufacturers periodically issue software and firmware updates to plug security holes. The trouble is that smaller businesses – and many larger ones – are still lax about keeping their systems updated with the latest patches.

The most effective way to stop hackers from taking control of your IP phones – or any other computer – is to keep the software and firmware current with the latest patches from your phone manufacturer.

Ignoring these patches – or waiting too long to implement them – could leave your business exposed to hackers bent on doing it serious harm.

Concerned about possible IP phone vulnerabilities at your location? We have security and communication solutions that can protect your business. Contact TCI today: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Mitel Rolls Out IP Phones Protected with Antimicrobial Technology

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TCI has been serving healthcare providers with innovative communication solutions for over 40 years. And the innovations continue…

With the increased awareness of health issues in office and home workplaces, Mitel has launched a series of IP phones built from plastics protected with antimicrobial technology. The phones feature surfaces that are treated with a silver-based compound that inhibits microbial growth by up to 99.9%.

The new Mitel 6920t and 6930t IP phones are designed to virtually eliminate the health risks associated with dirt, germ and grime collection, making the handsets easier to clean. In addition, Mitel removed the ribs on the back side of the handsets, removed crevices from the microphone grill, and hard-wired the cord to the handset to dispense with the jack receptacle.

The new business phones are also engineered with advanced tools for today’s power users. For example, the 6930t IP phone offers mobile device integration, which seamlessly connects mobile phone call audio, contact and call log information to the desktop phone, allowing calls to the mobile phone to be answered on the 6930t.

With Bluetooth functionality, many mobile phone features are also accessible on the desk phone, making the 6930t a great companion to the user’s smartphone.

As organizations continue to modernize and support new ways of working, they’re looking for solutions and devices that can do more, are simple to use, and easy to maintain. The Mitel 6920t and 6930t IP phones were created with this in mind, using antimicrobial technology and packed with features for powering productivity and collaboration, whether that takes place between traditional office walls and shared spaces or home offices.

The Mitel 6920t and 6930t antimicrobial IP phones are available now for installation and implementation by TCI. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Get Ready… Laws Requiring Direct 911 Access from Your Office Phones Go into Effect February 2020

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Last year, the President signed into law two statutes intended to improve emergency calling – Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act. Both take effect February 16, 2020 and are intended to protect employees and others with improved access to 911 emergency services.

  • Kari’s Law applies to newly-installed multi-line telephone systems. The law requires that users be able to directly call emergency services by dialing 911 without having to dial a prefix to reach an outside line.
  • Ray Baum’s Act requires that the FCC adopt regulations that would give 911 emergency operators a specific location for the calling party so that appropriate assistance can be dispatched to that location.

FCC Regulations

FCC rules require implementation of the Kari’s Law requirements for telephone systems manufactured, purchased, or installed after February 16, 2020. The FCC‘s dispatch location rules required by Ray Baum’s Act have not yet been finalized. But businesses planning new telephone systems should be aware of these requirements and ensure that their technology providers’ offerings are in compliance.

Compliance Challenges

Businesses seeking to comply with the new 911 rules must consider several factors, including the technology used in their IT environments, network topology and the geographic scope of their phone system deployment. Also, many states have already adopted their own 911 regulations, which could be a source of compliance confusion.

If compliance with these new 911 mandates presents a challenge for your business, TCI experts can help. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Complement Your Mobile Work Style with Mitel’s Powerful 6900 IP Series Desk Phones

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Mitel’s MiVoice 6900 series desk phones enable you to become more mobile with one-touch Bluetooth pairing and seamless integration with your mobile phone. Not only can you stay productive by easily switching calls between your desk phone and your mobile phone, you can have mobile and desktop contacts automatically sync between your devices.

6900 Series Video Introduction [44 sec.]

Elegant Phones – Choose from expansive models to meet the needs of business users at every level.

Advanced Features – Bridge the gap between the desk phone and mobile devices with Bluetooth and MobileLink.

Rich Accessories – A broad array of add-on accessories enable the phones to be tailored to specific user needs.

Outstanding Audio – Mitel’s Hi-Q audio technology delivers exceptional quality with high definition sound for an unmatched communication experience.

Easy Reading & Interaction – LCD displays are easy to read and large enough to easily find out more about a caller.

Enhanced Call Management – Programmable keys may be used for call appearances or speed dial numbers.

Walk & Talk – The enhanced, full duplex speakerphone allows you to multi-task without a break in the conversation, even with multiple callers.

More MiVoice 6900 Series Phone features…

  • Support for Mitel Teleworker, ACD agent and supervisor, hot desking, MiCollab Client and more
  • Secure encrypted voice communication, IEEE 802.1x authentication support
  • Quality of Service support – IEEE 802.1 p/Q VLAN and priority tagging
  • Dual 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports (LAN/PC), powered USB 2.0 Host port, sidecar expansion port, dedicated 4-pin modular headset port convertible to DHSG/EHS capable

Ready for the convenience, productivity and security that come from adding mobility to your desk phones? Contact TCI today: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.