Understanding WebRTC Security and Encryption

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to facilitate video and audio communication without the need for users to download additional software or plugins. The WebRTC market is projected to grow by USD 66579.72 mn during 2022-2027. A widely adopted open-source protocol, it enables real-time communication capabilities directly within web browsers and mobile applications. Being open source brings its own risks, and hence, the emphasis is on WebRTC encryption and security while building applications such as video calling, online gaming, telehealth services, and more.  

What is WebRTC Security? 

WebRTC is a sophisticated technology operating within a complex ecosystem that includes application code, web browsers, native devices, and infrastructure components. Security is paramount in the WebRTC framework, and it employs a multi-pronged approach to ensure robust protection. 

WebRTC’s focus on security involves a combination of protocol-level safeguards, browser-based measures, and best practices followed by the developer community. All of these approaches work together to maintain a high level of security in this versatile communication technology. 

Lack of WebRTC encryption can result in exposure to security vulnerabilities, and therefore encryption is important to ensure that the data is protected on browsers and mobile applications. 

What is WebRTC Encryption?

WebRTC encryption protects WebRTC sessions even when other security measures have been bypassed.  

The three WebRTC encryption specifications that encompass the protocol layer security for WebRTC communication are: 

Secure Real Time Protocol (SRTP)

SRTP encrypts any information that is transmitted through the real-time communication solution. It requires authentication keys and safeguards WebRTC sessions from man-in-the-middle attacks. 

Secure Encryption Key Exchange

Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) is a channel security protocol offering integrated key management, parameter negotiation, and secure data transfer. DTLS-SRTP, an SRTP extension of DTLS, provides the encryption benefits of SRTP along with the flexibility of DTLS.  

Secure Signaling

Encrypting the signaling layer, in addition to data and media streams, eliminates security risks from attack vectors. 

Is WebRTC Secure? 

Earlier in the blog, we saw that WebRTC has protocol-level security through SRTP, DTLS-SRTP, and secure signaling. All vulnerabilities, also called webRTC leaks, can be mitigated by browser-level, operating system-level, and WebRTC community-level security measures. 

Browser Security

WebRTC connections can be established on browsers. So, browser security is paramount. Although web browsers typically have robust security protocols, emphasis should be placed on maintaining secure HTTP and HTTPS connections.  

Browsers should meet  W3C and other internet security standards. Explicit permission is mandatory for access to a camera and microphone. Moreover, browsers cannot share IP information without consent.  

Operating System Security 

Operating systems have stringent security protocols both for desktop and mobile to safeguard users against threat actors. A potential cause for concern could be vulnerabilities in mobile apps. However, since developers are required to strictly appropriate security measures to ensure data privacy, it provides an additional layer of security.  

WebRTC Community Security

 It is common to assume that WebRTC is less secure because it is open source. However, being open-source is an advantage because scores of developers and experts are constantly testing and improving the code. Inputs from the WebRTC community help the protocol become more secure and immune from threats.  

Protecting data security and privacy is of utmost importance to Kaleyra. Our commitment to safeguarding user information underscores our dedication to ensuring the highest security standards for our clients and partners. Want to learn more about WebRTC security and encryption standards? Contact Kaleyra’s webRTC experts today!