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Microsoft Partners with Signal to Bring End-To-End Encryption to Skype (bleepingcomputer.com)

Posted by msmash on from the catching-up dept.

Microsoft and Open Whisper Systems (makers of the Signal app) surprised many on Thursday when they said they are partnering to bring support for end-to-end (E2E) encrypted conversations to Skype. From a report: The new feature, called Skype Private Conversations has been rolled out for initial tests with Skype Insider builds. Private Conversations will encrypt Skype audio calls and text messages. Images, audio or video files sent via Skype's text messaging feature will also be encrypted. Microsoft will be using the Signal open-source protocol to encrypt these communications. This is the same end-to-end encryption protocol used by Facebook for WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, and by Google for the Allo app.

4 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. The only question by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    is not if there's a backdoor, but rather, how many backdoors will be present and for whose purposes

  2. Hard to believe by jez9999 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    At a time when so many governments on Earth are scrambling for a way to surveil all communications how likely is it really that Microsoft would being true end-to-end encryption to something like Skype? I bet there's a backdoor.

    --
    == Jez ==
    Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
  3. Yeah, right by dnaumov · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First they DELIBERATELY weaken the Skype architecture to make it easier for various 3-letter agencies to eavesdrop on Skype calls and now we are supposed to trust they have their users best interest on their mind? Yeah, right. Without access to the source code, why would anyone sane consider the implementation to NOT be broken-by-design?

  4. Actually the important info is who and when by sasparillascott · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The important thing for the surveillers is keeping a running log of who you talk to and when you talk to them and that is still preserved and not encrypted. Having the actual messages is nice, but not nearly as important as knowing who you talk to and when. This is also why Facebook, of all people, allows it on their programs.