Thursday, July 19, 2012

Was Skype reworked by Microsoft to make it easier to wiretap?

Skype supernodes are being centralized by Microsoft, but they deny wiretapping. But there's this patent they have to intercept VoIP phone calls...
 
Back in May, skype-open-source reported Skype, owned by Microsoft, had replaced user-hosted P2P supernodes with Linux grsec systems hosted by Microsoft. The shock wasn't that Microsoft is hosing Skype on Linux servers, but that centralization makes it possible to wiretap Skype communications. One big advantage of Skype has always been the decentralized and encrypted service was secure from eavesdropping.

Microsoft denies this, but the company applied for a patent on a technology called Legal Intercept to monitor and record Skype calls. Applied for before they purchased Skype, Microsoft specifically mentions intercepting calls on that service in the patent application. Conspiracy theorists now say they understand why Microsoft paid what seemed to be an unusually high price for Skype. (more)