Who’s listening? How fixed line networks could be putting your privacy at risk

Even though the telecoms industry helps to keep the world connected, it also opens them up to cyber threats. As technology has become more advanced, so have the methods used by hackers and cyber criminals. If you use a fixed-line network, then that may not be the safest way of getting online -  it’s important that people and businesses move with the times if they want to keep their information safe.

What are the biggest issues with fixed-line networks?

A fixed-line network is a wired connection that someone can use to make calls or use the internet. Telecommunications can open up a gateway to your data, and with a fixed-line network, that gate is kept permanently open, giving anyone access. Third parties such as service providers, or even the manufacturers of the hardware your company uses, are capable of leaving behind vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the future.

In 2019, Bloomberg reported that Huawei, the Chinese telecoms company, had left behind a hidden backdoor program in their routers, meaning they would be able to gain access to them at any time. If all the computers and devices on a network are connected by cables, then one vulnerability like this one could end up leaving entire businesses or organisations open and exposed to all kinds of malicious attacks.

Many people still use Integrated Services Digital Network (or ISDN) lines, a legacy technology that’s been around since the world wide web was invented, and was first developed in the early 1980s. When they were launched, they were able to carry telephone calls and data over a traditional fixed-line network at the same time, but technology has vastly moved on since then. Connectivity providers are now gradually phasing them out, and will be completely switching them off by 2025, urging customers to find an alternative solution before it’s too late.

Why are people still using fixed-line networks?

Despite the drawbacks of these kinds of networks, there are plenty of companies out there that still carry on using them, and rely on them for their main source of connectivity. Even though they can turn out to be less secure than wireless connections, fixed-line networks can also be quicker and more reliable, so people just overlook the security risks these networks can provide. Wireless networks can be blocked by walls, or fail to work if you’re too far from a router, whereas a fixed-line network would work fine wherever you are, provided you can plug your device into a socket.

Another reason people still use these outdated networks is simply because it’s what they already have, and the cost of upgrading their systems and hardware would be too expensive and time-consuming. It requires time and money to set up a new network, and since not all devices would have wireless capabilities, you might even need to start replacing your existing equipment to get internet access. If this is your main concern, however, it’s worth considering how much more expensive a security breach would be in comparison. Although you’d have to pay money to make upgrades, if there was a cyber attack it could cost far more to pay a ransom to hackers, make repairs, and attempt to fix your reputation. 

What can I do to keep my data secure?

If you’re shocked by this news, and you’re now wondering how you can protect your business from online threats, then don’t worry. One of the most effective ways of keeping your data secure is data encryption - even if your messages or data are intercepted, hackers won’t be able to access encrypted data. Advances in quantum technology, however, have resulted in quantum computers that are capable of breaking most of the encryption methods used around the world today, but fortunately there are businesses out there working to combat this threat.

One of these firms, the British tech start-up Arqit, has relied on quantum technology to help keep data secure. Its solution, QuantumCloud™, encrypts the data and uses satellites to send secure keys to users down on the ground whenever they need them. The quantum encryption that Arqit uses is even more secure than other types of encryption because there isn’t a code that needs to be cracked. Instead, your data is kept safe by the quantum properties - any attempt by eavesdroppers to look at it, or access it without the right key, would in fact change the state of the message.

Technology like QuantumCloud™ could prove to be the best way of protecting data for all those businesses out there still using fixed-line networks. But others should take a closer look at quantum encryption technology too, especially as quantum computers become more widespread - if we want our information to be secure online, this could be the way to go.