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Except more and more, calls are going over VoIP, which is essentially never encrypted. Even calls from one landline to another, even to a neighbor, might end up

Except more and more, calls are going over VoIP, which is essentially never encrypted. Even calls from one landline to another, even to a neighbor, might end up on VoIP. And in any given call, there are probably multiple resellers. Each with full capability to intercept, redirect, modify, etc. any call. And tech support is often given access to capture any call, as a troubleshooting measure. Even companies like AT&T, who you'd think with exorbitant prices would always pay for proper direct connections, actually try to find the cheapest bidder in any way possible. For some destinations, they might a list that's 20+ resellers deep. In short, tapping major connectivity points is probably enough to capture a lot of calls even if you place them from a landline. (Not to mention there's no real security mindset in telecom at all.)

doctorshady 12y ago
That depends on what network you're using. If you're using a landline from the incumbent local exchange carrier, the probability of a local call going over voip is effectively almost zero. Likewise, for long distance carriers, AT&T, the ex-MCI networks Verizon owns, and the Sprint wireline long distance network (their mobile stuff goes over separate facilities; their long distance network, as well as most of the ex-MCI networks use a platform called the DMS-250, which is very much oriented to non-packet connectivity) generally don't use voip trunks for national traffic. Also, there is no least cost routing operation like on most of the smaller carriers, so there's no need to hit any sort of public network until it reaches the access tandem at your destination, at which point, it definitely isn't exchanged in any sort of IP format. Internationally, it depends on what carrier they interconnect with and what they want. Generally speaking, I think Verizon will use more IP-based routes (usually to more expensive countries) then the other two. By contrast, landline service coming from the cable company generally does go over voip, but only within their internal network. For local and inbound calls, it'll still hit some DSx trunks back to the phone network. 1+ long distance traffic, at least on Comcast, is definitely in IP format, and could very well even be hitting the public internet for least cost routing operations.

doctorshady 12y ago

That depends on what network you're using. If you're using a landline from the incumbent local exchange carrier, the probability of a local call going over voip is effectively almost zero. Likewise, for long distance carriers, AT&T, the ex-MCI networks Verizon owns, and the Sprint wireline long distance network (their mobile stuff goes over separate facilities; their long distance network, as well as most of the ex-MCI networks use a platform called the DMS-250, which is very much oriented to non-packet connectivity) generally don't use voip trunks for national traffic. Also, there is no least cost routing operation like on most of the smaller carriers, so there's no need to hit any sort of public network until it reaches the access tandem at your destination, at which point, it definitely isn't exchanged in any sort of IP format. Internationally, it depends on what carrier they interconnect with and what they want. Generally speaking, I think Verizon will use more IP-based routes (usually to more expensive countries) then the other two. By contrast, landline service coming from the cable company generally does go over voip, but only within their internal network. For local and inbound calls, it'll still hit some DSx trunks back to the phone network. 1+ long distance traffic, at least on Comcast, is definitely in IP format, and could very well even be hitting the public internet for least cost routing operations.