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Skype Security and Privacy Concerns

Posted by Zonk on from the conversations-can-hurt dept.

CDMA_Demo writes "Scott Granneman at Security Focus is discussing the security and privacy issues thanks to eBay's acquisition of Skype. Says the help section on Skypke's website: 'Skype uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), also known as Rijndael, which is used by U.S. Government organizations to protect sensitive, information. Skype uses 256-bit encryption, which has a total of 1.1 x 1077 possible keys, in order to actively encrypt the data in each Skype call or instant message. Skype uses 1024 bit RSA to negotiate symmetric AES keys. User public keys are certified by the Skype server at login using 1536 or 2048-bit RSA certificates.' Scott Granneman debates that since Skype is owned by eBay and is closed source, we have no way of verifying this claim. Further, from the article: 'At the CyberCrime 2003 conference, Joseph E. Sullivan, Director of Compliance and Law Enforcement Relations for eBay, had this to say to a group of law enforcement officials: 'I know from investigating eBay fraud cases that eBay has probably the most generous policy of any internet company when it comes to sharing information.' This raises interesting questions about how Skype and eBay together will try to avert cyber criminals from using security flaws in either system to their advantage.'"

3 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Skype vs eBay by lordsilence · · Score: 4, Interesting

    According to Zennström (co-founder of Kazaa and Skype) whose company skype recently got bought by eBay, Skype will still be run as a separate company by him as the head.

    So I kind of doubt he'll actively be doing stuff to endanger peoples privacy.
    It's worth mentioning that he left Kazaa BEFORE they became known as an adware-bloated software.

  2. Re:Is there even a coherent thought here? by temojen · · Score: 4, Interesting
    There are dual-recipient encryption systems. Scype could be using one to store the session key so Law Enforcement (with or without a warrant) can decrypt intercepted communications. Or just encrypting the session keys twice.

    It seems to me what the world (or at least tinfoil hatters and others, like lawyers and accountants, who handle confidential information) needs now is either
    1. A serverless, point-to-point, TLS with client key authentication Capable VOIP protocol, with multiple implementations, some of which are open source, or
    2. IPSEC protected SIP or H.323
  3. Re:Isn't that the way ... by DarkHelmet433 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    However, the real interesting thing is how does eBay, a US company, get around the US export restrictions? eg: it's been mentioned that 128 bit AES is the limit that you can get export approval for. Given skype's 256 bit AES, will eBay have to weaken it when they release it after the ownership transfer is complete?

    Or do they have wiggle room and claim that its produced offshore and therefore isn't exported from the US, even though its now owned by a US company? I doubt that will go down well with the powers-that-be, because (among other things) that will just encourage US companies to offshore all their products-with-crypto work to get around the regulations.