Along with all the advantages that modern technology has, it seems that an equal amount of problems come with it. The number one issue for the average consumer is privacy, or security of their information. People are worried if what they put into their computes, say into their phones, or scan into their fax machines will end up in the wrong hands. Although no method of communication can ever be truly secure, faxing provides many security advantages that other forms of communication do not have. At the same time, fax lines can be easy and cheap to tap into, so certain security measures must be taken.

Why faxing can never be truly secure: Risk of Human Error

Whenever you communicate with someone, there is always the risk that human error will misdirect the message. In the area of faxing, there are a few simple security risks that are hard to fix because of human error.  For one, a fax machine user can accidentally type in the wrong fax number and send the fax to the incorrect fax machine. Also, even if the fax is sent to the right location, that international fax machine is often in the middle of a busy office full of people who could intercept it. The same problems come with emails, phone messages, etc., however.

How to secure an international fax message using a fax machine:

There are a number of things you can do to strengthen the security of your international faxing. First and foremost, we recommend using fax-to-email software to ensure protection equal to that of your email.

1.)   You can use encrypting hardware which will scramble and protect the message you are sending in case it is intercepted by another party. Unfortunately, the receiver also needs to have the same encryption hardware and this can get expensive for both ends.

2.)   A strongly suggested security method is to set up fax sending protocols within your company or just for yourself.  You can add a cover sheet to every fax that includes important information like number of sheets faxed, names of the sender and recipient, request for a confirmation once the fax is sent, and any other metrics you can use so that the recipient knows that the integrity of the fax is intact and can confirm it with you.

3.)   Place your fax machine in a secure area.  If you have fax machines for your company, only give employees access and make sure that it is not open to the general public.  If it is your fax machine, still make sure that it is in a safe physical location.

Why faxing is a secure alternative to email or other forms of communication

Since an international fax is an image file, it cannot be edited to include programs that may harm your fax machine or computer (if you are using an online international faxing service). This means that viruses, worms, malware, and spyware cannot be put on your computer or fax machine with a fax.

In short, faxing security requires some common sense practices and measures, but overall it is a very safe method of communication. For further resources, see below.

How to Secure Sending Faxes

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/enterprise-security/articles/8262.aspx

Legal Elements of Faxing Security

http://www.connotech.com/FAXBIBL.HTM