How secure is DECT compared to DSS?

Question

It seems like most new cordless phones are based on DECT technology. A few years back DSS (Digital Spread Spectrum) was touted as being very secure since it sliced the call over many different channels, making casual eavesdropping very difficult.

How does DECT compare to DSS from a security/privacy point of view? Are phones using DECT as secure as phones using DSS from an eavesdropping point of view?

Answer 1

There are numerous reasons why DECT 6.0 is secure:

It uses:

- Frequency Division Multiple Access

- 10 channel dynamic switching

- Time Division Multiple Access over 24 time slots

- Time Division Duplex

- Data link between base and handsets is Digital Data, not analog

- Voice data is Encoded with G.729 codec (similar to VoIP codecs)

The above characteristics of DECT 6.0 phones give some degree of security from snooping by your neighbours.

However, increased security is obtained by two further enhancements:

- Authentication between base unit and handsets

- Encryption using DECT Standard Cypher (DSC) - 64 Bit Encryption

- Authenication will prevent an near-by electronic intruder from taking control of your phone.

- Encryption will prevent any possible snooping on conversations without using highly sophistocated equipment.

*** Encryption is what really sets DECT 6.0 phones apart from the rest. *

P.S.

The DECT standard does not include Firewalls or Nat-Routers.

PSTN based DECT 6 phones do not include Firewalls and routers, as a standard feature.  (show me a Panasonic DECT 6.0 PSTN phone that includes a Router & Firewall ?)

However, many of the new VoIP ATA's are hybird combo boxes that include a NAT-Router, Firewall, ATA, and a DECT 6.0 telephone all bundled into one combo box.  One example of this is the Panasonic "JOIP" Dual-phone.  It is both a VoIP phone and PSTN fall-back phone.  But the Router/Firewall/ATA portion is strictly for VoIP purposes, not for PSTN telephone purposes.

Answer 2

the DECT 6.0 is one of the most secure phone systems on the market.....it has a build-in router and firewall!

I use it!

1.9 GHz band is used by the popular DECT phone standard and is considered more secure than the other shared frequencies.