Can a business phone be bugged?

Remote working is now the standard. Employees are making business calls on the phone, exchanging confidential data via instant messaging and logging into company accounts from mobile devices. Given that the business phone is becoming the center of work activity, one question is gaining prominence: could the business phone be bugged? It’s not impossible. But the good news is that it is possible to effectively defend against this. And that’s where ITH comes in with its offer of modern and secure telephony for businesses.

What exactly is a wiretap?

Eavesdropping is spyware – applications that secretly collect data from your phone: calls, text messages, location and sometimes even microphone recordings. In the imagination of many people, these are bugs or other components installed in the phone, but this is absolutely wrong! Nowadays, eavesdropping on employees and other smartphone users is done through programs that do not require physical access to the phone – just a click on a suspicious link.

Can your business phone be tapped?

Yes, and it can be done by:

• malware installed accidentally, such as after clicking on a dangerous link on a business computer or phone;

• leaks in the infrastructure – especially when the company uses outdated solutions or private numbers for work purposes;

• intercepting data on the network – especially if you use unsecured connections or public Wi-Fi.

All this makes eavesdropping on employee conversations a real risk. And this is where we come in with our offer.

Employer eavesdropping on employees: is it legal?

A wiretap does not have to be set up by someone outside the organization. It happens that the employer himself has decided to set up a wiretap in the workplace. However, does he have the right to do so? It turns out that only in specific situations:

• The employee knows about the wiretapping and has consented to it.

• There are strong grounds to claim that the employee has committed a serious crime.

• There was a need to collect evidence and data while conducting investigative activities.

Consequently, a wiretap can only be set up for the purpose of obtaining information that would be relevant in the case of a suspected serious crime, or when the employee has given his consent.

What if a supervisor sets up a wiretap, even though there is no reason to do so? At this point there is a violation of the employee’s personal rights, and the case may end up in court. In such a case, the employer must expect to pay a fine or damages, a restriction of liberty penalty, and in the worst case a prison sentence of up to two years.

But the consequences can also be less formal, but equally severe. Eavesdropping on employees, illegally monitoring or inspecting emails without consent is a quick way to destroy organizational culture.

Secure telephony with ITH

Any kind of eavesdropping is a violation of the secrecy of communication, and its detection should be reported to the State Labor Inspectorate. To avoid problems related to this, we come with an offer dedicated to companies and corporations.

ITH Tele is not just a telecommunications network service. It’s an entire solution architecture that can operate without a physical PBX, without a server room, without unnecessary costs, and still offer complete security.

Our solutions include:

• Virtual PBX – accessible from anywhere, without investing in hardware.

• SIP Trunk – a channel that allows simultaneous calls of the highest quality.

• Integrations with CRM, ERP or Contact Center systems – everything works together, without downtime or unnecessary middlemen.

• A toolkit for Call and Contact Centers – enabling full control over communications.

It’s a way to secure the data that circulates on company phones every day.

How to secure a business phone?

You don’t have to be an IT specialist to improve your security. Here are some basic principles:

1. Update your system and applications regularly – security patches are the first line of privacy protection.

2. Don’t click on suspicious links and don’t install apps from outside official stores.

3. Ensure strong passwords and a screen lock – trivial, but effective.

4. Install proven antivirus software – this is the bare minimum in protecting against malware.

5. Use a secure network – preferably a corporate, encrypted one.

6. What if something already arouses your suspicions?

What if you suspect that an employee’s work phone is bugged?

Don’t panic, but act quickly. Report the situation to your IT department or system administrator. Don’t try to remove suspicious applications on your own, as this can only make matters worse. Enlist the help of ITH specialists, who will take care of the entire telecommunications system for you.

With ITH you get more than just a phone

At ITH, we don’t just deliver telephony. We design it to run smoothly, securely and on your terms. Without term contracts. Without expensive hardware. For that, with immediate expansion and integration with the rest of your systems.

Make sure your company is using secure solutions!

Eavesdropping is a real threat, so keep your information safe and your work comfortable. Contact ITH and see how we can help you.