Security → Silver Needle in the Skype

Have just stumbled over this document and after search here seems like it was not posted here before.

I've found it very interesting and educational needless to say very disturbing from security perspective.

»www.blackhat.com/present ··· i-up.pdf

If I'm reading this correctly, then Skype can be potentially a huge security threat as it's not possible to scan any traffic through it for viruses and trojans.
In theory it can be quite good hidden back-door once compromised.

I'm wondering what others think of the risks posed by Skype?

I'm using it today, but after seeing the documentation above I'm bit worried.

There are probably a lot more programs that are a threat before Skype. Granted, there are definitely some weak spots pointed out in that paper, but any app that talks out on a regular basis, if compromised, would be a door for outbound traffic.

Skype's efforts at obfuscation and crypto are actually pretty neat, and a lot more effort than most software shops are going to do.

Not to mention pointless.