Microsoft Can Now Listen In On All Skype Calls

There was a wildly terrifying story published late Friday on Slate that didn’t get much attention because of the time of the week it was released.

In it, the author – Ryan Gallagher – lays out how Microsoft (MSFT) seems to have made some subtle and (to most) imperceptible changes to the popular Skype calling service that allows it to eavesdrop on all of your calls going forward. (Forbes contributor Anthony Wing Kosner flagged the service changes in an earlier post published July 18.)

Although it’s not completely clear, some seem to think that Microsoft may have made the changes either from or in anticipation of pressure from various government entities.

forbes.com

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Comment by Sweettina2 on November 6, 2012 at 5:32pm: @ YHTFM Thanks, sending that to her now.

@ Troy yep, audio too. Sorry rat b@stards.

Comment by youhavetoforgiveme on November 3, 2012 at 3:43pm: @Swettina2: She probably knows this already...tell her I said to tape over the camera lens on her laptop. Remove as appropriate to take a picture.

If possible, send a message to the person/entity taking the pictures:

"A multi-million dollar spy device defeated by a .01 cent piece of tape. You guys are too stupid to be 007."

Comment by TheLasersShadow on October 20, 2012 at 12:56am: Encrypt skype maybe, with an audio encryption program then feed the audio into skype. On the other end using a decryption program you get clear audio again... yea lol it's possible but not easy. There are VOIP encryption programs but you need to use IP's to connect to each other, much easier. Use google to find one you like.

Comment by noblsht on October 19, 2012 at 10:32pm: , so at present there's no way to encrypt Skype calls? I would call dirty bastards on

that

Comment by Paul on October 19, 2012 at 7:32pm: Not surprised one bit! what with trapwire and all the damn surveilance going on all over the place! are they in my bathroom yet??? Mmm the mind boggles probably peeping thru the ceiling with a pin hole camera! maybe we Should spy on them!!! would they like it?...

Peeping Toms! that's what they are!

Comment by Sweettina2 on October 19, 2012 at 3:11am: Rat b*st*rds! I have a dear friend that has a laptop that often takes her picture when she logs on! Crazy.

Comment by Robert Freddie: Lain on October 18, 2012 at 9:54pm: I will never retreat. But as a delaying tactic. I will never surrender. And i do not care if they do listen in. Nothing I can say that they, whom ever they are, has not heard. Am I dangerous.??? Only if you "Tread on Me." I do not want to create a problem, but if it by some chance it comes my way. OUCH on them again whom ever they are. I do not fear dying nor do I fear death. I am not suicidal nor do I wish to die any time soon. But as a Sheepdog, retreat is out of the question. AS the the old song Bobby Mcgee said, "Freedom aint worth nothing but it is free "" Wrong, freedom is not free and it is worth making a lot of the die for mine,.

Comment by bys on October 18, 2012 at 9:23pm: I think by now we'd be kind of naive if we didn't suspect this already! It's kind of like people in a concentration camp whispering, that's not water coming out of that shower head. Of course they can listen! Every time you sent a message to microsoft about your computer not responding, did you think they started working on the problem? You gave them permission to view your system. Gmail is free, so they can profile you. In ruthless capitalism, they are profiling you and listening to you not only for political reasons but to sell you something, to reshape an ad structured for your value system. They scan your voice, your email and when you let them in with their "cookies" they get little pings back like sonar as to exactly who you are and what you are about!

Comment by Less Prone on October 18, 2012 at 8:06pm: Suzie, the slime balls deserve to hear it loud and clear. I'm with you. Their days of false glory are diminishing rapidly.