Extracting evidence related to VoIP calls

Abstract

The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is designed for voice communications over IP networks. To use a VoIP service, an individual only needs a user name for identification. In comparison, the public switched telephone network requires detailed information from a user before creating an account. The limited identity information requirement makes VoIP calls appealing to criminals. In addition, due to VoIP call encryption, conventional eavesdropping and wiretapping methods are ineffective. Forensic investigators thus require alternative methods for recovering evidence related to VoIP calls. This paper describes a digital forensic tool that extracts and analyzes VoIP packets from computers used to make VoIP calls.