Will Skype Solve Security Woes Now?
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I've got Skype set to accept incoming calls, video calls or instant messages only from people in my Contact list. Yet every time I log into Skype, I see a few chat messages from obvious spam accounts, asking me to "rate my Webcam" or "meet in private."
Inevitably, when I flip over to my contact roster, I notice that the spammers have added themselves to my contact list, freeing them to bother me in other ways if I don't immediately block them. I first noticed this problem with one of the first non-beta builds of Skype 4.0, but it certainly continues through to the latest builds of 4.1. And I'm hardly the only one experiencing this, and it doesn't seem particular to whether the user is on a Mac or a PC. A PR guy working with Skype suggested that accounts accessing Skype from multiple computers may find the security settings differ slightly from instance to instance -- which may lead to this problem. I access Skype from two different Windows PCs, a MacBook and my iPhone. On the computers, I've found the privacy settings all match. If those same privacy settings exist on the iPhone, I've yet to find them, so perhaps the hole lies there. But if so, Skype needs to add those settings to its iPhone instance. One can't help but wonder if the potentially pending divorce of eBay from the underlying Joltid technology Skype uses has led to a stoppage or massive slowdown of development on the Skype we all currently use. eBay recently announced a development initiative for a replacement peer-to-peer technology to replace the existing technology, in case the legal wrangling between eBay and Joltid goes south. If eBay is investing in a massive project to reinvent Skype for release sometime in 2010, it stands to reason the company is not actively working to improve the current Skype much. And it remains unclear whether Joltid will or can undertake that work in eBay's stead. But if Skype security problems are not addressed, and the network devolves into a morass of spam and illicit contacts, will users stick around to see whether the new technology is even worth their time? |
Comments (4)
copied from http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=360781&st=140&p=1766031&#entry1766031
There are two issues here:
1. During an upgrade to 4.x versions, ANY pending contacts you may have had, were added to your default contact list. Not approved, just added to your default contact list.
To add/deny any of these contacts, that were added during an upgrade, do the following, using your main Skype window:
Contacts -> Contact Categories -> See All Contact Categories
Then do:
Contacts -> Contact Categories -> Requests From New Contacts
This shows you ALL your pending contact requests by themself.
Right click on any names you do NOT wish to add to your contact list and choose block.
Right click on any names you do wish to add to your contact list and choose "Add To Contacts"
Again, using your Main Skype window do:
Contacts -> Contact Categories ("Uncheck See All Contact Categories by selecting it")
Any contacts you have that you do not want, right click on them and choose "Block this contact".
2. To have ANY future add contact requests NOT shown in your default contact list, do the following, using the main Skype window:
Contacts -> Hide Contacts Who -> Haven't shared contact details, make sure it is checked. Future add contact requests, will now no longer be shown in your default contact list.
NOTE: If you NEVER wish to see an add contact request pop-up, from friend or FOE, using the Skype client main window do:
Tools -> Options -> Notifications ("Uncheck the Requests my Contact Details") checkbox and click the save button.
If you do this, you will need to do Step #1, and manually add any contact requests you may want, anytime in the future.
If you have shared contact info, with someone, who you did NOT wish to share contact deatils with, right click on their name in your contact list and block them as well.
Posted by P M | August 13, 2009 2:03 PM
i have tried every way to shut off anyone except my family, and still get these spam and porno links, my senior citizen mom gets them too, and we have all her privacy setting on....
this is bogus from skype, and no one there is responding to complaints...
Posted by barf | August 17, 2009 10:44 AM
I have used Skype as my only home phone for over two years. Now, we have cellphones for 911 calls and when travelling and this arrangement has save us hundreds... well... actually thousands of dollars!
I have not had these privacy issues with Skype at all. We have one tower that runs Skype 24/7 and also have it installed on two laptops for when we travel. I have had a few spam messages, but once I tightened up my security settings I have had no further problem.
My only complaint... We use a Linksys iPhone (They had the name first!) which is a cordless phone for Skype. It works great... but Skype has those pesky surveys asking if the last call was clear, etc. These do not show up on the phone... and I have to go down to the basement to close the survey window before the phone will work again. I have not found a way to turn off this survey window! Thankfully it is not on every call!
Posted by Michael | August 17, 2009 11:44 AM
We have started getting the same porno problem over the last month with all of our office skype numbers. This was never a big issue over the last few years. However, now we get 1-8 every morning. This needs to be fixed by Skype if they plan to IPO next year. It takes too much time to do all the clicking to block each porn (Want to see my webcam? pops up) IM request. We love skype. Hope they fix this soon.
Posted by Barry | August 24, 2009 1:50 PM