Just How Safe Is Skype?
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Recently I had an email come to my inbox in which I was asked whether or not Skype was secure enough to discuss matters of a personal nature. My response, however, is this: We first have to examine what a user decides is considered secure.
Eavesdropping is not all that preventable if you are unsure as to physical security of the PC that is running Skype. But assuming the concern is the point to point aspect of the call, yes, Skype is actually more secure than you might think. Using high encryption, the data of the “call” from point to point is quite safe from being intercepted. The only real security risk is something attached or installed on one of the local PCs recording the audio going back and forth. Outside of this, I see very little involved risk.
Care to learn more about Skype security and how it affects you as a user? You will find a complete run down from this link. Remember that no means of communication is ever 100% secure. Anything making this claim is making false claims. However as far as VoIP goes, Skype is very secure and is usable for secure business and personal communication exchanges.
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3 Comments
GadgetNut
July 15th, 2009
at 4:00am
It’s too bad that PGP Phone died. That was an idea that was evidently ahead of its time, in that when it came out, the general public was not as concerned with security as they now know that they should be.
Elaine Rose
November 5th, 2009
at 2:15pm
I was under the impression from other articles I have read that Skype can and in some cases does use “my bandwidth” to connect other calls besides mine. For examplel if i am connected to skype but not talking to anyone - my system can be used to connect other calls. Thus causing unauthorized use of our bandwidth. Also, I have read that in this same scenerio my system could become a “supernode” . If i am wrong about this information please set me straight.
Elaine
margaret
November 11th, 2009
at 2:22pm
I would like to know how, out of 10, safe skype is.
I am very worried that my security might get hacked, and people will be able to access to my personal information.
I would like to know the proof. I read in the papers somewhere that someone’s account on another program had been accessed to and that person had been hurt.
So i would like to know.
Thanks