Skype called a danger to IT security

Industry experts are warning of the security dangers of Skype. The Burton Group is drawing attention that does not publish its protocols for public review. There may also be backdoors into enterprise networks through Skype. Skype has made it clear that if asked to do so by a governmental organization, Skype would release data on the public’s use of the application.

There are also issues with the voice over IP service, such as the lack of ability to provide centralized management and control and the inability to log conversations with external parties.

Skype can become a supernode and has the potential to use up all the bandwidth from your network - Red Alert to all IT Managers

Skype can make your Office’s PCs to be their supernode. That is why your bandwidth fluctuates.

Supernode occurs when your computer is arbitrarily assigned as a hub.

When you are running the software for P2P services like Skype, your computer’s disk space, bandwidth, and processing power are used to help other users on the same system operate their software more efficiently because of their own network or firewall constraints.

Not only can this overload systems or networks with excessive data, disk space, and network bandwidth, unscrupulous hackers can also insert arbitrary code in each supernode’s address space or crash all supernodes.

Peer-to-Peer P2P systems such as Skype operate by taking bandwidth information carrying capacity from customers on their service to assist other customers using their service - analogous to a symbiotic relationship. The tools that enable them to accomplish this are bundled in the software their customers download to access their VoIP service.