VPN’s are sometimes regarded as an ‘anti-system’ program, but it depends what you use it for. Some use VPN’s to browse illegal websites. Others just use it to watch videos as if they were based in different countries. So a Virtual Private Network works by using encryption and other security measures, a VPN can scramble all the data sent through the wide area network, so the network is “virtually” private.

Businesses often use VPNs to communicate across multiple locations. For example, a large company that has offices in several cities may need to send Information to the different locations via the Internet and make sure it’s done securely so it can’t be hacked. To keep the information secure, the company might set up a VPN with an encrypted connection.

VoIP is basically a telephone connection over the Internet. The data is sent digitally, using the Internet Protocol (IP) instead of analogue telephone lines. In order to use VoIP, you need a computer, an Internet connection, and VoIP software. You also need a microphone, analogue telephone adapter, or VoIP telephone.  Many VoIP programs like skype and TeamSpeak allow you to use a basic microphone and speaker setup. Others require VoIP phones, which are like regular telephone handsets, but typically connect to your computer via USB. Analogue telephone adapters allow you to use regular phones with your computer. IP phones are another option that connect directly to a router via Ethernet or wirelessly. These phones have all the necessary software for VoIP built in and therefore do not require a computer.

Next, check the current version of the software against the vendors product support web pages. Updates contain fixes for security flaws, so it is imperative that these updates are applied quickly.

Manufacturer support pages often change, but currently the relevant page on the Cobham web site is here: https://sync.cobham.com/satcom/support/downloads/?type=2502&article=7399

From this, one can see that the current version of software 1.60 Build 15, which means the software in the Cobham image above is indeed current.

Use a search engine to find the vendors current software update pages, or navigate through the vendors web site looking for the update pages.

Ask for written evidence of the procedure used for monitoring for updates and subsequent installation of upgraded software.

Example 1: Cobham Sailor 900

Ask if you can connect your laptop or smartphone to the crew Wi-Fi network. If this is permitted, connect and use a web browser. If you search using Google for ‘whats my ip’ then this will be displayed thus:

Then copy and paste the IP address you see in to a web browser address bar, e.g.

If you see a page that displays a satellite terminal interface, then make a note of this. Look for common terminal vendor names (e.g. Cobham, Intellian, KVH, Inmarsat etc)

It is likely in this case that the terminal is available to all on the public internet, a bad idea.

If instead the web page does not load or a generic error message is displayed, it is likely that the operator or airtime provider has correctly protected access to the terminal from the public internet.

This is still not a guarantee of security; a hacker that had successfully compromised the operator’s HQ network may still be able to access the terminal, but the risk is much reduced.