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Skype Now Offers End-to-End Encrypted Conversations

posted by chromas on Tuesday August 21 2018, @11:32PM   Printer-friendly
from the 6854734946204569446c692020534f6e20746e457243705965540044 dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

Back in January, Skype announced it was testing end-to-end encrypted chat conversations, secured using Signal Protocol by Open Whisper Systems. Now, the feature is available for all users on Skype iOS, Android, Linux, Mac, and Windows Desktop.

There's a bit of a limitation, however: users can only participate in one private conversation per device at a time. The private conversation can be switched to another device, but anything sent and received will be tied to whatever device is currently being used.

Source: The Verge

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday August 22 2018, @04:55PM (1 child)

    by bob_super (1357) on Wednesday August 22 2018, @04:55PM (#724731)

    For all of history, communicating across any non-trivial network has always run the risk of interception.
    You can still plan a revolution with your neighbor with a string and two yogurt pots. Or encrypt your own packets on your HP calculator before typing them into the evil spy computer OS.

    It'd be nice if people stopped feeling oppressed when they have more freedom than anyone before them.

    Starting Score:    1  point
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  • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Wednesday August 22 2018, @05:32PM

    by requerdanos (5997) on Wednesday August 22 2018, @05:32PM (#724758) Journal

    communicating across any non-trivial network has always run the risk of interception.

    [people] have more freedom than anyone before them.

    The problem with using this kind of observation as justification for a particular communication method without considering other factors is the normal distribution, also known as the bell curve [thefreedictionary.com].

    Some of the communication methods will have interception risk at the ends of the bell curve (very low risk) and some will have interception risk at the center (high risk, such as Windows 10 which is designed to intercept and transmit the user's activity to home base).

    So, while your statements are arguably true, they are not relevant to the point you seem to be trying to make. A reasonable risk evaluation, on the other hand, is relevant, and recommended. Most people, especially Windows 10 users, are going to be able to use Skype without significant additional risk, but only because their communications are already compromised.

    If that doesn't matter to you, then it shouldn't hurt for you to know it.
    If it does matter to you, you may want to consider it.