University of Cambridge department bans Skype, citing security concerns | connect.educause.edu : University of Cambridge department bans Skype, citing security concerns

The Physics dept of Cambridge University (My alma mater) has banned Skype citing the EULA and the possibility of relaying as a supernode. This is couched with language that suggests there's a potential security risk. in the middle there's this statement. Users were alerted to recent security compromises and back-door intrusion attempts on machines running Skype. Really? If this was true surely it would reach the mainstream web coverage of Skype?

Now presumably Cambridge runs firewalls? And they use VPNs? And NAT? In which case there's zero possibility of a connected computer becoming a supernode and relaying traffic. And I know they do because I've tried to connect to CU Wifi that was apparently open but walled off as soon as you tried to connect.

And even if a connected machine did become a supernode, any intrusion via that route would a be a huge source of concern for both Skype and the Skype community.

This just looks like more scare stories to me from a party with too much control and some vested interest.


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[ 18-Oct-05 8:24am ]