Tech & Biz

Italy police warn of Skype threat

by generaldecay | February 15, 2009 at 01:52 am

393 views | 61 Recommendations | 9 comments

Criminals in Italy are increasingly making phone calls over the internet in order to avoid getting caught through mobile phone intercepts, police say. Officers in Milan say organised crime, arms and drugs traffickers, and prostitution rings are turning to Skype in order to frustrate investigators.The police say Skype's encryption system is a secret which the company refuses to share with the authorities.

This makes perfect sense to me, and it doesn't take a criminal mastermind to figure out that making phonecalls online is more sensible that risking being tapped.

But on a more general note, I'm observing with some relief that Skype has not succumbed to divulging its users' activities etc. like Facebook has done. Of course, there's the difference, perhaps, that one doesn't pay to use Facebook while one does pay to make phonecalls with Skype, and that could be behind Skype's decision to keep the law-makers and law-enforcers out.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Paschen

at 02:34 on February 15th, 2009

One does only pay Skype if using Computer to Phone connections, but not Computer to computer. Or unless one has a permanent Skype number rather then a Internet Connection.

Rob Walker

at 07:52 on February 15th, 2009

This is totally not surprising but very interesting nonetheless!

Amy Judd

at 12:25 on February 15th, 2009

I use skype all the time - I love it. I never thought of using it for criminal purposes... kidding!

Geneva B

at 12:30 on February 15th, 2009

Amy, I'm onto you!

Fripouille

at 15:37 on February 15th, 2009

(Psst Amy, I have this great idea. What we do is, we open a false bank account in Zurich and then we contact rich busine...I'll skype you after lunch).

Jordan Yerman

at 16:56 on February 15th, 2009

This is a knock-on effect of wiretaps: people will just go to the next level of invisibility.

TDH

at 12:14 on February 16th, 2009

It seems that the NSA is offering billions to anyone who can offer a reliable way of intercepting skype video, voice, and messaging...sooner or later they'll get it.

Fripouille

at 12:31 on February 16th, 2009

Sure they'll get it! And they'd get it from me if I knew! lol!! How about you?

Yours,

(ps. Don't get me wrong. I too like my privacy. That's why I'd use some of the money to research and develop ways around the Skype hack I'd just sold them.....and give it out free on the net.)