Attention skype users! - MS patent to allow recording/spying of VoIP

Question

hi everyone,
I thought Skype users using Archlinux might want to have a look at a technology Microsoft Corporation has patented on June 23 2011, that will possibly end up in skype and potentially would allow viewing of conversations using subversive techniques that abuse networking protocols to allow your conversations to be routed to a recording agent. (ie: Digital wire-tapping) Microsoft, Government and law enforcement can make use of this new technology to view/monitor/record your calls. this potentially will affect not only skype users, but any VoIP platform that Microsoft supports/develops. (ie: Xbox 360, Office 365 too)
here is a link to the article;
http://softwarefreedom.org/blog/2011/jun/29/Office-365/
for those of you who aren't familiar with www.softwarefreedom.com ... Software Freedom Law Center = Legal team for the Free Software Foundation, and they offer legal advice for free software developers - this source is legit.
here is a link to the Patent in question, itself;
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Par … 0110153809
the SFLC also has a link to this patent in their blog... If you have a look at the patent itself, it's pretty clear what the plan entails, and isn't overly difficult to read through.
Myself, i am not impressed with this news, and won't be using skype at all ever again, at home or at work, period. ~ Part of the reason for posting (aside from to share this news with those who are unaware) - i will be looking for a more secure free-alternative. If any Archers have advice on a good VoIP client for linux, by all means - feel free to post
also, i'd like to hear other Archer's opinions on the matter!
NOTE: ****Let's keep this conversation clean, if you have opinions on the matter as per the moderators request; No Microsoft bashing, attacking governments, etc. and/or drawing conclusions that may not be factual ie: stick to the forum guidelines - by opinions that isn't what i meant. i was more interested if any of you think that there are valid concerns to be discussed***
Last edited by triplesquarednine (2011-07-11 04:19:48)

Answer 1

Blµb wrote:
Personally I wasn't a fan of skype anyway. I understand that what really makes it that successful is the phone-calling.
From my point of view: I don't care about calling phones, since I never ever ever EVER use up the free minutes I have on my phone anyway. And I really prefer teamspeak 3 / gtalk with voip support, etc.
I currently refuse to add anybody in skype, and tell them to get jabber instead. If they have an android phone they *most likely* have a gtalk account anyway. (almost certainly actually...) (- and that works well together with "regular" jabber)
Also I'd really like to point out that "M$ probably doesn't care about us {playing <insert game>,talking about <insert topic here>}" is NOT a valid argument FOR allowing them to be ABLE to spy on you!,
which btw. is the only thing people I talk to seem to respond with...
I'm also not really a fan of skype. At work we use it, and because of that at home i have had to have it as well. Not only that, but i also do a bit of contracted work (here and there) for another company ~ whom relies on skype. everyone works from home, and we essentially have a virtual-office space over skype.  My 'main' employer is in Germany right now, and once the IT department can get him to sign off on it, we will be replacing Skype with something else (we already know he is not going to be impressed with this skype news. He already pushed a corporate mandate down that we will never be migrating to Office365 either, being as we see absolutely no logic in having microsoft host all of our internal data on their servers/ the cloud. <-  it's bad idea in general.
I whole heartedly agree with your last statement about the gaming perspective. whether they care about who's playing X game, talking about Y topic, is completely besides the point. for me, the concerns tend to be centered around a few issues i see:
1. invasion of privacy - which applies to both individuals, groups, and businesses.
2. creating a backdoor in their implementations of VoIP, creates more possibilities for exploitation by 3rd parties... which could have number of ill-effects.
3. who is to say that this technology won't be abused?  (and not necessarily by microsoft, but in general). it's not a stretch of the imagination, to think of ways this might apply. ~ a couple quick examples, which have nothing to do with MS, nor this technology or any particular group specifically, but instead looking at how people have behaved throughout history in in general, would be ... look how airports were doing racial profiling post 9/11.  or how way back when in the 50's the US GOV't targeted anyone who they suspected was a communist ~ from the average Joe, to folk singers, politicians, to movie stars. Most of whom, actually had nothing to do with communism, but there political views didn't gel with the government at the time. they were demonized.. i just feel this technology isn't good for society in general and 'could' create a conflict of interest... I'm not saying something of this nature 'WILL' happen, but the possibly for abuse is there, ya know?
and besides all of that, this whole situation just creates a lot of distrust, it's very invasive, and should be considered malware (because it is).
..maybe i'll check out teamspeak / gtalk - thanks for the tip. I've heard of both, but yours is the first review i have heard (which is helpful, so thanks!)
take care and thanks for your own insights on the matter, it is appreciated!