Germany Uses Trojan To Spy On Skype Users

[Indi]

From : http://yro.slashdot.org/firehose.pl?id=1178655&op=view

Bavarian police searched the home of the spokesman for the German Pirate Party (Piratenpartei Deutschland) looking for an informant who leaked information about a government trojan used to eavesdrop on Skype conversations. (German article)

There is a high probability that the trojan is used illegally. "The Bavarian authorities worked on the trojan without a legitimate basis and now try to silence critics," a criminal law specialist said.

The informant need not worry since "every information that could be used to identify him" is protected against unauthorized access. A server that was seized is also protected by strong encryption.

The trojan is supposedly capable of eavesdropping on Skype conversations and obtaining technical details of used software. It is deployed by e-mail or in place by the police. Moreover, it may be deleted or extended without a trace and provide access to SSL encrypted websites.

"After this search, the validity of the letter can no longer be questioned," the pirate party said, "Some of our officials seem to want to install the Big Brother state without the knowledge of the public".

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I thought Skype was "secure" <grin>

Indi

Edited September 23, 2008 by Indi

[lazeeboy]

if you've got nothing to hide ,what difference

[Guest Reimar]

From : http://yro.slashdot.org/firehose.pl?id=1178655&op=view

Bavarian police searched the home of the spokesman for the German Pirate Party (Piratenpartei Deutschland) looking for an informant who leaked information about a government trojan used to eavesdrop on Skype conversations. (German article)

There is a high probability that the trojan is used illegally. "The Bavarian authorities worked on the trojan without a legitimate basis and now try to silence critics," a criminal law specialist said.

The informant need not worry since "every information that could be used to identify him" is protected against unauthorized access. A server that was seized is also protected by strong encryption.

The trojan is supposedly capable of eavesdropping on Skype conversations and obtaining technical details of used software. It is deployed by e-mail or in place by the police. Moreover, it may be deleted or extended without a trace and provide access to SSL encrypted websites.

"After this search, the validity of the letter can no longer be questioned," the pirate party said, "Some of our officials seem to want to install the Big Brother state without the knowledge of the public".

-------

I thought Skype was "secure" <grin>

Indi

I do believe I need to clear something:

Skype isn't unsecure and it isn't Skype which leaked the information.

According to the German article, the Bavarian Police had send/install a trojan on computers of members of the Piraten Partei (Pirate Party), which is a legal registered organization in south of Germany. The installation on an host computer didn't mean that the program Skype is unsecure. All Data send with skype, doesn't matter in which format, are splittet and crypted at the same moment they leave the sending computer and not more traceable.

There isn't any point to be worry about the security in and within Skype. The only worry about is about the used computers and the safty of them.

Cheers.

[Indi]

Reimar

Thanks for the info - I don't read German , but I wonder if German Govt could make a trojan to track Skype users/conversations, then Skype needs to "improve" <grin>

I never used Skype & I am very ignorant of chat/p2p softwares - I only hear they open many ports in PC , all the time.

Thanks!

Indi

Edited September 24, 2008 by Indi

[Guest Reimar]

Reimar

Thanks for the info - I don't read German , but I wonder if German Govt could make a trojan to track Skype users/conversations, then Skype needs to "improve" <grin>

I never used Skype & I am very ignorant of chat/p2p softwares - I only hear they open many ports in PC , all the time.

Thanks!

Indi

1.:

They can make a trojan which is installed on an user's computer and capture the data BEFORE they send, not within! At the same momemnt the data are snt, the data crypted and splitted in many parts, not more traceable.

2.: Skype open many ports only if you didn't set it up on the right way and your firewall is disabled. My skype is limited to one port only. If the firewall is used, skype will use port 80 by default.

Cheers.