Source Article: “Microsoft May Add Eavesdropping To Skype ” – ConceivablyTech
In 2009 – a while before acquiring Skype – Microsoft filed a patent on a “Legal Intercept” application specifically for VOIP. In 0028 of the description section, Skype is specifically mentioned. Some of the description terminology includes “silently recording communications”, “Recording Agent”, and other aspects of the protocol to be used.
Considering the inherent insecurity(*1) within Skype technology, and the existing regulations (or lack of) for lawful-interception, I will myself assume it to be soon implemented, if not already so. I know there are some contenders surfacing in the open-source community; but it may be a long time before any of them get the backing necessary to compete with such a giant. But one sure way to help is to experiment and support efforts where they exist. So lets keep open minds and try an alternative.
Requests for further information regarding implementation have so far been ignored by Microsoft.
*1. Skype encryption does not pad data packets, which enables spoken phrases and even entire sentences to be easily deciphered by advanced “listeners”.
