Question about Skype security?

[Fred Bloggs]

I wanted to send a file over to Mrs Bloggs recently and I wasn't sure about the security of sending files like pdf's etc... Skype says -

All Skype-to-Skype voice, video, file transfers and instant messages are encrypted. This protects you from potential eavesdropping by malicious users.

Question I have, if I'm in a coffee shop etc.. and on public Wifi is Skype still secure? Thanks.

 

[SueEllen]

Why are you using Skype in a public place or for that matter have phone calls with private information staying stationery in a public place?

I've heard some interesting conversations at train stations and on trains.

Oh and you are told not to do your banking on public WIFI even though banking sites all use encryption....

 

[woohoo]

I wanted to send a file over to Mrs Bloggs recently and I wasn't sure about the security of sending files like pdf's etc... Skype says -



Question I have, if I'm in a coffee shop etc.. and on public Wifi is Skype still secure? Thanks.

I wouldn't trust Skype regardless of where you are using it from. If I need to transfer a file or anything remotely sensitive I tend to also zip it up and password protect it.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Why are you using Skype in a public place or for that matter have phone calls with private information staying stationery in a public place?

I've heard some interesting conversations at train stations and on trains.

Oh and you are told not to do your banking on public WIFI even though banking sites all use encryption....

Skype instant messaging...............

 

[Fred Bloggs]

I wouldn't trust Skype regardless of where you are using it from. If I need to transfer a file or anything remotely sensitive I tend to also zip it up and password protect it.

Ah, yes, great lateral thinking. Thanks for that, great idea.

 

[FrontEnder]

A VPN would also give you another layer of security.

I end up using hotel or other open wifi when staying away, so I've started using a VPN for everything.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

A VPN would also give you another layer of security.

I end up using hotel or other open wifi when staying away, so I've started using a VPN for everything.

Thanks. Travelling around a lot, I haven't had great success with VPN's to be honest. But I wasn't using it primarily for security admittedly.

 

[VectraMan]

Skype is going to be doing SSL (or https) from your computer to their server/other user. So public WiFi won't mean they can access the unencrypted version, but maybe Skype can.

It perhaps makes it easier for someone to save the encrypted data and crack it later.

Zip encryption is probably far easier to break.

 

[Fred Bloggs]

Skype is going to be doing SSL (or https) from your computer to their server/other user. So public WiFi won't mean they can access the unencrypted version, but maybe Skype can.

It perhaps makes it easier for someone to save the encrypted data and crack it later.

Zip encryption is probably far easier to break.

Thanks, that's useful. This evening I've actually learned a little about encrypting documents in MS Office, apparently it's now quite secure. I'm also going to do that to some stuff I have on Gdrive too.

 

[_V_]

Phone the other half and say you will send the password to unzip the zipped file by SMS and you will email the drop box password, then SMS the password with no context and email the dropbox password with no context. Then zip up the file with a strong password, place on dropbox with a strong password protected access and email the password.

Send the private link to dropbox via skype.

Then only someone with access to your SMS, email, phone and Skype will be able to gain access to the file easily.