Welcome to VoIP technology
Skype , Cell Phone , Zfone
TR: How is Zfone different from most VoIP encryption schemes?
<<<... I'm the only one who does it through the voice stream. The voice packets already flow and I jump in there and put in special packets that negotiate all the keys between the two parties. The servers are not involved in any way in the process. TR: Skype, the most popular VoIP client, already has encryption software, so why doesn't Zfone work with Skype? PZ: Skype is not compliant with VoIP standards; they have a closed protocol. Skype uses its own encryption software and it doesn't tell anyone how it works. I prefer to use encryption that is open; I publish my source code
TR: Who would use this VoIP encryption software?
PZ: Who wouldn't use this? Who wants to not be wiretapped? I'm not talking about wiretap from law enforcement -- I'm talking about wiretap from organized crime. Organized crime is doing phishing attacks and taking over your computer with hostile software. I'm making the prediction that those same criminals will attack VoIP when it gets big enough. It could be point-and-click wiretapping from the other side of the world.
TR: With your e-mail encryption software, you were under a criminal investigation by the U.S. government, which alleged that you violated export restrictions for cryptographic software. The case was eventually dropped, but how do you plan to avoid such a complication this time around?
PZ: This time I'm being careful about getting good legal advice and following export controls. I've filled out the paperwork and filed with the U.S. Commerce Department. I'm getting things back that clear it for export. I'm being very careful this time...