6 replies to this topic

[Nvyseal]

OICE OVER IP outfit Skype has been caught snooping on parts of your PC operation again.

We already reported how Skype was taking a deep interest in the workings of the BIOs of Windows users, now it seems that the outfit is snooping on Linux users too.

At the Skype Forum, a bloke called ZaphodB set up an AppArmor profile to isolate skype from the rest of his system. His big idea was to protect the system against a potential 0-day remote flaw in Skype, by restricting the software's to access only those files strictly required.

Much to his horror he found that Skype kept asking to see all the details of his Firefox software and its plug-ins.

There was a bit of a debate as to why Skype would want to see these files, as they are not really required to make Skype run. There is a fear that Skype might be monitoring Firebadger and recording the details.

Skype has not commented on the news yet. Inq

[brewin]

This story is pretty overblown. It's probably just checking to see if the Skype Firefox plug-in is installed or it might be looking for proxy information. And as for the other files Skype is "snooping" on, like /etc/passwd, just about every program accesses that file. Even simply listing the contents of a directory with ls accesses /etc/passwd. People don't trust Skype for some reason, so they're always accusing them of spying.

[rant]
Also, I hate how the Inq always makes up words to try to be funny or hip or something. "Open source" is always "open sauce" and "Firefox" turns into "Firebadger,' etc. HEY INQ!!! IT'S NOT COOL!!! IT'S STUPID!!!
[/rant]

[Nvyseal]

brewin, on Aug 27 2007, 04:08 PM, said:

This story is pretty overblown. It's probably just checking to see if the Skype Firefox plug-in is installed or it might be looking for proxy information. And as for the other files Skype is "snooping" on, like /etc/passwd, just about every program accesses that file. Even simply listing the contents of a directory with ls accesses /etc/passwd. People don't trust Skype for some reason, so they're always accusing them of spying.

[rant]
Also, I hate how the Inq always makes up words to try to be funny or hip or something. "Open source" is always "open sauce" and "Firefox" turns into "Firebadger,' etc. HEY INQ!!! IT'S NOT COOL!!! IT'S STUPID!!!
[/rant]

Go get them Brew...

Although i do have to say, Right now Skype is not on one of my preferred lists of software, They have been messing up pretty badly with these new big builds, the network going down, etc.

[brewin]

Nvyseal, on Aug 27 2007, 06:16 PM, said:

Go get them Brew...

Nvyseal, on Aug 27 2007, 06:16 PM, said:

Although i do have to say, Right now Skype is not on one of my preferred lists of software, They have been messing up pretty badly with these new big builds, the network going down, etc.

You'll get no argument from me there. I've never liked Skype.

[Nvyseal]

Is anyone else having issues with skype, as far as process and it using a bunch of memory??

Im running 3.5.0.214

 skype.JPG   65.37K   4 downloads

[m.oreilly]

gosh, i'm at 26,000k...wonder why yours is so high?

[Nvyseal]

dont know, but its done this 4 times to me, one time, right before skypes outage