Everyone is Eavesdropping on Your Conference Calls, Here's How to Stop Them

Introduction

As a business owner, you know that conference calls are an important part of your company. You need to be able to connect with your team, without ever having to leave the office. This can also be a huge benefit when working with clients, who also have busy schedules and may not have time to travel. But there is one big downside to conference calls: eavesdroppers.

The internet has made it incredibly easy for people to listen in on conversations, whether it’s through a phone call or video conferencing system (or even just by using Google). So how do you protect yourself against these types of security breaches? Luckily there are some simple steps that can help keep unwanted intruders out of your conversations:

Set up your call on a secure line.

There are several ways to secure your phone call.

If you’re using a landline, set up the conference call using that line. This will automatically ensure that no one else can listen in on your conversation.
If you cannot or do not want to use a landline and must use a cellphone instead, consider using an app like SecureMe or Silent Circle (both of which cost money) that allows users to set up encrypted calls over public wifi networks.
If you are working remotely and need access to secure lines but don’t want the hassle of setting up VPNs, then consider using services like Google Voice or Skype as opposed to regular cellphones. These services provide free voice calls over WiFi connections so long as those connections are strong enough; otherwise they will drop out and revert back into normal cellular service where eavesdropping is possible

Never share access codes.

Never share access codes. I know it sounds obvious, but it’s worth repeating: never share your access codes with anyone, ever. Seriously! Especially if that person is asking you for your code right now!

You know what happens when people share their access codes? Their calls become vulnerable to eavesdropping. Unprotected conferences are like an open mic night at the comedy club—anyone can tune in and listen to conversations happening within the conference call or even join in on them (if there aren’t any rules set up first).

It’s important not to give out your conference call access code because there are so many ways that these conversations could be compromised if someone else has this information. For example: suppose an employee who works for a competitor calls into one of your meetings and starts listening; he might find out about a new product launch or a legal battle you’re fighting with another company. He’ll definitely want his boss (the CEO) to hear all about this juicy info too! But now everything is ruined because everyone knows how much money they’ve spent developing their latest product line and how much they think they’re going spend defending themselves against lawsuits filed by other businesses whose lawyers think they’ve been wronged by yours (and maybe rightfully so).

Lock down your video conferencing system.

If you’re using a software-based video conferencing system, like Skype or Zoom, it’s important to lock down your connection.

Disable video sharing by default and don’t allow anyone else to share their screens with you. If they do, make sure they’re not doing anything sensitive (like signing up for a credit card). Don’t let people share files or folders with each other unless absolutely necessary (even if it seems innocuous). Disable audio sharing so only the person speaking can be heard on the call. And turn off chat altogether so no one can send messages in real time that others could read out loud during the call—or worse yet, don’t know about until later when someone accidentally leaves their laptop open at work one day!

Track usage and activity.

Use a call tracking system.
Use a call recording system.
Use a call recording system to track calls, callers, and recordings.

Remember to record.

Recording your calls is a good idea in many situations, not just when you’re trying to protect yourself from eavesdroppers.

You can record your calls for training purposes, so that new team members can be trained on the company’s policies and procedures; this is especially useful if you have remote employees who aren’t accustomed to speaking with each other regularly. You may also want to record conference calls for quality assurance purposes; if someone asks a question or makes an important statement during a call, you’ll want to make sure that it’s recorded so that everyone knows what was said. Recording meetings will also help you comply with any regulations about how long meetings should last or how many people are allowed on conference calls (depending on where you work).

Don’t be afraid to un-plug.

The most simple and effective way to protect your conference calls is to not have them in the first place. Don’t be afraid to un-plug your phone or video conferencing system if you are worried about eavesdropping.

If you want to stop eavesdroppers, you need to take simple steps to protect yourself.

Set up your call on a secure line. The most obvious way is to set up the phone call in such a way that it can’t be accessed by other people without your knowledge or permission. Calls made through a standard mobile phone network are not secure, so this is not an option if you’re worried about eavesdropping. You’ll need a special device that connects directly with the internet (a smartphone or tablet will work). You’ll also need access codes—these look like passwords but they’re different from passwords used for security reasons like logging into your email account or banking website. Make sure everyone knows what these are before setting up the conference call; otherwise anyone could join in without being invited and listen in on everything going on!

Conclusion

If the idea of eavesdroppers on your calls makes you nervous, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to keep your call secure. You just need to take some simple steps in order to protect yourself and make sure that no one is listening in on your conversation.