Skype Virus Records Your Conversations

Today's topic may be a rather strange thing to be discussing on MusicEdMagic, but it potentially affects a large number of users of the site.  Many viewers of MusicEdMagic also use the online videoconferencing program Skype for giving music lessons or for simply making cheap phone calls.  Infoworld announced today that the first known Skype trojan horse virus has been seen "in the wild" as a piece of malware that allows an evildoer to intercept and record any calls made over Skype by an infected computer.  Apparently the virus started out as a program written for the Swiss government (WHAT???) to use for remote spying.

InfoWorld is saying that the virus is considered a very low grade threat, and anti-virus companies are sure to be writing new updates soon to capture the little bugger, but it is still just another reason to avoid visiting untrusted web sites.  For those that crave even more security for their computer think about installing something like NoScript for Firefox (a program that allows you to turn javascript on and off for individual web sites to prevent accidentally getting infected by a rogue web site).

Let's just hope that if one of MEdM's viewers does get hacked that the only thing the hacker gets is audio files of someone giving a beginner oboe lesson!

Comments 

 
0 # Thomas J. West 2009-09-08 18:58
There actually is a legitimate application for Skype that allows you to record up to 15 minutes of a call for free (audio only): www.pamela.biz/

Their paid version gives you unlimited calling and can record video as well. It saves it for you as mp3's (and presumably m4a files) right on your hard drive.

Nowadays, there's no way to really no who's listening to you or if you are being recorded. Acting with integrity at all times is the way to go.
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