Cordless phone security

[Ambulance Chaser]

I have a several-years-old 900 mHz cordless phone on which I have occasionally overheard other phone conversations. How secure are today's cordless phones? I regularly call up my credit card company and bank to check on my balances and don't want anybody hearing confidential financial information. Should I stick to using a corded phone for making these calls or am I being unnecessarily paranoid?

 

[briancl]

If it's analog, ditch it. Anyone with a RF receiver can listen in on your call. You want a DSS (digital spread spectrum) in 2.4 or 5.8ghz for a reasonable amount of security.

Cell phones are actually more secure than land lines for a number of reasons such as encryption and cost and availability of equipment to bypass the security controls.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

I should have clarified that I currently have an old 900 mHz cordless phone and an even older corded phone, and I use the latter to make calls to my credit card company and bank. I would like to ditch both phones and get a new digital cordless phone, but will keep the corded phone or get a corded/cordless combo if the security of the new digital cordless phones is insufficient. Sounds like I'm probably okay with the new cordless phones.

 

[indy116]

Keep the old corded phone in case the power is out and you need to make a phone. The newer cordless models should be fine.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

I should have clarified that I currently have an old 900 mHz cordless phone and an even older corded phone, and I use the latter to make calls to my credit card company and bank. I would like to ditch both phones and get a new digital cordless phone, but will keep the corded phone or get a corded/cordless combo if the security of the new digital cordless phones is insufficient. Sounds like I'm probably okay with the new cordless phones.

best security is with a dect phone 6.0 phone which runs on 1.9Ghz since that band is specifically reserved for phones and you don't get cross-talk. Supposedly you get better crystal clear range than with a 5.8 Ghz. 2.8 Ghz is outdated and can have cross talk with Wi-Fi internet. I don't know what your budget is on a phone, but you can get single DECT phones from $25 (single phone no answering machine) to sets with a base with VM and 4-6 handhelds. I picked up an AT&T one and it seems great.

 

[briancl]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

best security is with a dect phone 6.0 phone which runs on 1.9Ghz since that band is specifically reserved for phones and you don't get cross-talk. Supposedly you get better crystal clear range than with a 5.8 Ghz. 2.8 Ghz is outdated and can have cross talk with Wi-Fi internet. I don't know what your budget is on a phone, but you can get single DECT phones from $25 (single phone no answering machine) to sets with a base with VM and 4-6 handhelds. I picked up an AT&T one and it seems great.

FWIW:

2.4ghz is used for 802.11b, g, and n
5.8ghz is used for 802.11a, and n

You can get WiFi interference with either of those cordless phones. The 5.8ghz wireless stuff is a little less common, but soon n will take over g, so it is something to keep in mind.