Microsoft might be scanning all of your Skype messages for malware and spam. This is nothing new however we don't quiet know the extent of the information being gathered however Microsoft stands by that they are doing it for the security of the users, but can we be sure? Microsoft attacked Google over privacy issues about scanning and reading emails and yet here they are doing it. Now while Google does it for targeted ads, malware, spam protection as of now I can say Microsoft is using it for malware and spam protection. None of these so does this pose as a security and privacy issue to us? Lets find out!
Privacy Issues
While we can't confirm what Microsoft is doing with those scanned messages we do know that they scan them for malware and spam, but were does this information go? Is Microsoft storing the information if not were does it go and what is the deletion process that it goes through? Microsoft might be under some heat from security and privacy advocates about this so called scanning. Now the issue that lies with this is the fact that Microsoft is in the process of ruining Google's reputation however they are now in just as much trouble, but they are better at hiding this because no one bothers to taunt them. So do you feel comfortable with them scanning all of your Skype messages I am because I don't care if they scan the messages so long as they don't READ them or have access to the messages sent.
Security Issues
Other than the normal security flaws that you get with any software this one has no real negatives and in theory is safer for you because they are scanning all of the messages. Now as i mentioned above there are a lot of privacy issues with this but since Microsoft would never release an official post or explanation over their process we are stuck and shrouded in mystery. Now there is still some major security issues with Skype and that is their password recovery system. For someone to get into your skype account all they need to know is your
1. Skype Name
2. Email Adress
3. Registered Email Address (same as 2)
4. When did you create your skype account This is by year
5. Country
6. Payment method
7. 3 contacts.
Now while to most of us this would be hard to crack it is actually fairly simple. I can get all of this from your account details. Except for Payment method and I can say free and get it right on most chances because most people don't pay for Skype credits. So that is still a major security hole for Skype and they need to fix this broken system.
Summary
So Microsoft needs to do a lot of work and explaining because if they are storing the messages then there are a lot of people who will question what for and they will want more information. Then we have to worry about the weak password recovery leads me to believe that Microsoft will make some major changes within the coming months towards the most popular VOIP service around.
0 comments:
Post a Comment