Backdoor in Skype

[PartisanEntity]

Now that the backdoor in Skype has become official, what are the alternatives?

Has anyone heard of Cryptocat? (I hear they are working on implementing encrypted file-transfer and VOIP)

[AleCutu]

Skype is offically dead? What's the source?

[mips]

Skype is offically dead? What's the source?

It's not dead but 'dead' for the OP as he will no longer use it due to back doors & security flaws.

http://memeburn.com/2011/07/microsof...eavesdropping/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_s...ping_by_design

[Lars Noodén]

For VoIP, there is SIP. All you need is an account and a client. There are many places that offer SIP accounts for free. The clients you can download from the repository or elsewhere. Probably the best one is Jitsi, which happens not to be in the repositories at this time, but there are also Ekiga, Linphone, and Qutecom. If you've been using Skype lately, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the better sound quality in the SIP clients.

[smellyman]

WebRTC will take over and start making Skype moot.

Can't wait until it starts materializing. It will be soon.

[Linuxratty]

WebRTC will take over and start making Skype moot.

Can't wait until it starts materializing. It will be soon.

Same here...It's just a matter of time.

[monkeybrain2012]

WebRTC will take over and start making Skype moot.

Can't wait until it starts materializing. It will be soon.

Think a beta will be in Firefox 22.

[Paqman]

It's not dead but 'dead' for the OP as he will no longer use it due to back doors & security flaws.

http://memeburn.com/2011/07/microsof...eavesdropping/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype_s...ping_by_design

As a Skype user this is interesting to me, but I'm not sure I can really believe either of those sources. The Wikipedia article cites a Russian site called vedomosti.ru, does anybody know if this is a reliable source? The memeburn.com article alleges a lot of stuff, but doesn't seem to back any of it up. Could just be mudslinging as far as I can see.

What there does seem to be is a proposal for an amendment passing through the American legislature that could require backdoors into things like Skype and BBM. This has created a bit of anguish and column inches, which could be where people are getting the idea from.

[Lars Noodén]

It's covered in several sources, but here is one from H-Online:

http://www.h-online.com/security/new...e-1862870.html

The H-Online article goes into a little detail in how it was demonstrated and why the excuses from MS don't hold up.

But to be sure that the recent question is not related to earlier similar questions:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...-police-access

Upgrade to Jitsi when you can. It can run along side Skype during any transition period you might wish to take.

[Dry Lips]

Upgrade to Jitsi when you can. It can run along side Skype during any transition period you might wish to take.

+1 for Jitsi.

Jitsi is cross platform, and it offers strong encryption, all you need is a XMPP account.

Jitsi ftw!
https://jitsi.org/

Directory over free XMPP services:
http://xmpp.net/