[svlug] hacking skype

[Bill Teeple]

Not really sure your friend is attacking the problem correctly?  

I have never heard of a Skype program being hacked like this (I hope I am not being ignorant) and my company uses it as our IM of choice because of the VoIP capabilities and dialing. The IM is fully encrypted and protected.

I would be more concerned with the user having spyware/viruses on her system that they are totally unaware of, thereby keylogging or sending their passwords to the hackers.  Deleting the User\Appdata\Roaming folder on a Windoze system is really a bad practice for troubleshooting what is more of an endemic issue with the the security of the system.

As John stated, Google Voice is an alternative... but if this user still has spyware/malware on their system... their Google Voice will get hacked too.

Bill

PS - the only way a roaming device could hack Skype is by using the username/password... which leads me back to a local system issue


--
Bill Teeple
San Jose, CA


"End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it. 

White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise."

-Gandalf, the White

On Dec 15, 2012, at 9:10 PM, george pope <gpope111 at gmail.com> wrote:

> A Ghana friend of mine living and working in Seattle has had problems with a tenant sending up Meth Amphetamine fumes wafting up through in her building which adversely effect her. The latest follows. Suggesting that she switch to Linux is probably not in the cards just now.
> 
> "I just had my Skype account deleted to prevent  a hacker from accessing it. The person was using a roaming device (smartphone or tablet) to access my Skype account.
> 
> I will not reinstall Skype until I get rid of the User\Appdata\Roaming external roaming device problem that is allowing the hacker to access my hard drive. I have tried to delete the Roaming folder and also a duplicate Program file directory; however, I am not sure that the problem is gone entirely.
> 
> I believe it is related to my report to the Police Chief about the narcotic activity. I am not scared or deterred by the cowards. The continue doing the drugs in the middle of the night. I have to try to move as soon as possible."
> 
> She has complained to Public Health Authorities to no avail so far. She needs Skype to make overseas calls. Any suggestions would be most welcome.
> 
> george pope
> 
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