UPDATE: Since the terrorism "excuse" is now
firmly entrenched, much of this page will sound dated or to some
possibly unpatriotic. We MUST find a way to keep our privacy and security
and still enforce the law. We can't throw the baby out with the bath water.
I'm not saying I have all the answers, but I think it is safe to say that
most calls are undergoing some type of screening and I think it is also
safe to say that most people no longer have a real problem with this as
they are demanding protection from every possible threat. To live in
a free society (or any society) we must always have some element of
risk in our lives.
The rest of this page was written long before the 9/11 scare.
We are only going to briefly touch on this subject as it is too
complex to easily explain all the intricacies of audio encryption
and security technologies in one page, and there are far more
detailed descriptions available in books and elsewhere on the web.
What we want to do is inform you of just how insecure your phone
conversations and records really are. Many people are unaware of
the fact that their phone conversations can be legally monitored not only
by the government, but by their neighbors as well. Your most private
conversations, concerning your business or love interests, may
have already been broadcast LEGALLY on the Internet for millions to
hear.
Every day more and more phone conversations take place using some
type of wireless technology. These are simply audio sent through
the air in the form of a radio type transmission. People with
the receiving equipment can listen in, tape, and even rebroadcast
the conversations, in many cases legally, or certainly without
any real repercussions. The Supreme Court has already ruled that
cordless phone conversation privacy is NOT protected and can be
listened to, recorded, and yes even broadcast almost as a public
domain commodity. While cellular calls are supposedly protected,
you may remember a recent case involving the taping and broadcast
of "private" conversations from Newt Gingrich in Florida by the
Democrat opposition. These individuals are not exactly rotting
in jail for their crime.
Of course, you may never know if your conversation is public,
because while you may be talking into a hard wired phone the party
on the other end may be using a wireless phone. But even a hard wired
to hard wired conversation is hardly secure. As we have explained
elsewhere, any kid can tap into your conversation by simply clipping
onto some terminals at one end or the other. Any number of points
between your phone and the phone at the other end can be potential
security holes. Never assume your conversations are secure, and
don't be surprised if you hear yourself talking on the Internet.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of phone tapping comes from the government
itself. The government demanded phone companies provide them with the
capability to simultaneously tap into 1 million phone conversations and they
have complied. With the currently available voice recognition technology,
and certainly with what will be available in a few years, everything we say can
be screened and selectively recorded and cataloged, and all without need of human
intervention. What is even more disconcerting is how zealously the government
has tried to prevent citizens from encrypting (scrambling) their communications
unless they have the key to decrypt them. All this is creating a new business
designed merely to protect what many feel is an absolute right to privacy.
As stated previously, we don't intend to get into all the ways to protect
yourself with various scrambling and encryption schemes, tapping detection equipment,
and other spy-like technologies. The point we are trying to make is to let you
know how insecure your communications really are, and to keep that in mind when using the
phone. At least avoid using cordless phones for sensitive conversations and
if you have real concerns about what you may be discussing on the phone, avail
yourself of some of the high security technology available to protect yourself.
You don't have to be a criminal to want to protect what you are saying from others,
even the government. Some of the Net Phones we cover on the pages dedicated to them
have built-in security technologies and cost nothing. The Internet has a wealth
of information on security and protecting privacy, as well it should. The Internet
is probably the least secure of all our high-tech communication tools, though it
doesn't have to be.
You may send a request for information or order any of our plans by simply filling out
the form below. We can contact you by E-mail if you desire, although
we actually prefer to speak to you directly at your convenience.
We don't ask for any personal information over the Internet so just leave your name,
phone number and the best time to call, or leave only your name and E-mail
address if you don't want a return call. Leave any message you may have in the
text box at the bottom and press the submit button. You are not signing
up for any plan by filling out this form, nor are you obligated to accept anything
if we call.
You may also contact us by a variety of other methods, including a direct Net Phone
call (or voice-mail) over the Internet, an alphanumeric page, call us directly toll-free at
one of the numbers below, or fax us your bill for free analysis. You will almost
definitely get diverted to a voice-mail system during business hours as we REFUSE to
make people wait on hold for more than a minute. We will call you back at your
convenience at any time you specify if we can't take your call immediately.
Henton Communication Enterprises
Austin, Texas
Voice Number
512-778-5629
24 Hour Bill Faxing Line
512-778-5626
Toll-Free US Voice Calls Only
888-783-5204
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