MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:  
|  Skype EULA says it's spyware/backdoor trojan?
i was looking over »www.skype.com/eula.html and i found the following entry pretty worrying:
9. Disclaimer of Warranties.
(c) THE SKYPE SOFTWARE IS UTILIZED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THIRD PARTIES WHICH ARE UNRELATED TO SKYPER. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INSTALLATION OF THE SKYPE SOFTWARE WILL ALLOW THIRD PARTIES WHO ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH SKYPER THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COMPUTER ("OUTSIDE PARTIES"). YOU AGREE THAT SKYPER WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE, CLAIM OR LOSS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES AS STATED IN PARAGRAPH 9(a) ABOVE, RESULTING FROM ANY ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS OF THE OUTSIDE PARTIES.
:o
anyone know/researched what kind of "communications" those "outside parties" can do with skype?
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB | That is always the case with P2P.
The term third parties would include the other Skype users.
However, there might be other third parties. |
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Doctor Four
My other vehicle is a TARDIS
Premium
join:2000-09-05
Dallas, TX | reply to MxxCon
Like Altnet or Brilliant Digital, perhaps? The fact that
it is coming from the makers of Kazaa makes me want to avoid
using Skype even more. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | reply to MxxCon
I'm surprised there isn't a skype lite yet seeings how long skype has been out.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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keith2468
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-03
Winnipeg, MB | reply to MxxCon
If it is associated with Kazaa I'd personally avoid it.
Why not check out what they are recommending in the File Sharing Forum?
»Filesharing Software |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| said by keith2468  :
If it is associated with Kazaa I'd personally avoid it.
Why not check out what they are recommending in the File Sharing Forum?
»Filesharing Software
This is a peer to peer based voice chat program. has nothing to do with sharing files.
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MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
| reply to dvd536
said by dvd536 :
I'm surprised there isn't a skype lite yet seeings how long skype has been out.
there is no point in 'lite' version since skype is a single 7.6meg exe file and installer doesn't have any spyware(unless skype itself is that..which is what i'm trying to find out)
keith2468 , i don't really care for recommendations since i'm not looking for file sharing app:)
just in case you aren't aware, Skype is a VoIP application and not file sharing one.
i posted my question here since it's more related to security rather than "what's better"..
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Vampirefo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-11
Huntington, WV
 ·Comcast
| reply to MxxCon
From reading the Eula, I would say that anyone using this product has had their pc turned into a spam relay/delivery station.
These types of companies make their money from spam and spyware, all they need are mules(users) to install and use their program.
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Spam Officially Legal |
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EGeezer
Summertime -
Premium
join:2002-08-04
Country!
 ·Callcentric
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T CallVantage
1 edit | reply to MxxCon
Why the disclaimer?
If it's a legitimate VoIP app, they put it there to tell you people can call you and you can call them. Kinda like the phone company disclaiming "you may hear strange voices in your head when you use this product"
If it's spyware, They're trying to stay legal by telling you so.
This brings to mind the concept of trusted party verification. We have lots of tools, protocols etc to verify communications technically, but few tools to verify the trustworthiness of the product or business selling it. That's where we presently rely on industry certification, word of mouth, forums, reviews etc. {speculation} Maybe someday there will be a standardized business trustworthiness cert that will piggyback x.509 ? {/speculation}
In the meantime, a few other disclaimers for your edification;
»www.rinkworks.com/said/warnings.shtml
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Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
Robert A. Heinlein |
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Vampirefo
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-11
Huntington, WV
·Comcast
| reply to MxxCon
Re: Skype EULA says it's spyware/backdoor trojan?
I guess we see thing differently.
"THE SKYPE SOFTWARE IS UTILIZED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THIRD PARTIES WHICH ARE UNRELATED TO SKYPER. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INSTALLATION OF THE SKYPE SOFTWARE WILL ALLOW THIRD PARTIES WHO ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH SKYPER THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COMPUTER ("OUTSIDE PARTIES")."
This tells me plain and simple the 3rd party software has nothing to do with using SKYPER, in fact you don't need it at all to use SKYPER and to communicate with other SKYPER users.
The only reason 3rd party software is installed is so SKYPER
Can make money from their mules.
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Spam Officially Legal |
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skyme
@4.42.x.x |  reply to MxxCon
my SKYPE is gone......NOW ! |
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mens rea
Premium
join:2002-01-31
Canada
·Shaw
| reply to MxxCon
Personally, when I see a boilerplate utilization clause which is so broad as to be meaningless, and which contemplates the distribution and use of the software concerned by an unrelated third party I move on. Essentially what the clause states in English, is that Skyper has granted a licence to other parties to market/use their software, and Skyper is not responsible for what those parties choose to add to it. So expect those parties to be adding something, otherwise why the need for the disclaimer. |
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meeeeeee
join:2004-02-06
New Britain, CT
| reply to MxxCon
From the "What is Skype?" page at »www.skype.com/skype.html:
"Skype is the next phenomenon from the people who brought you KaZaA."
Doesn't that just say all you need to know? |
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Lappen
join:2000-12-07
sweden
 ·Bredbands Bolaget
| From the faq Privacy Section >> »www.skype.com/help_faq.html#Privacy
quote:
Does Skype contain any advertising or Spyware?
No.
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@*** Lappen ***@ |
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mens rea
Premium
join:2002-01-31
Canada
·Shaw
| reply to MxxCon
It is interesting that throughout the Skyper Privacy Policy they state:
quote:
No information concerning your computing facilities is collected that is not related to providing Skyper Services, including other installed software systems, non-service-related content, or hardware peripherals. No information about your specific computing facilities will be provided to any third party unless required by the Terms of Agreement of a Service with which you’ve registered....
Skyper will not sell, rent, lease or otherwise provide Active Information to any third party unless required by the terms of Agreement of a Service with which you’ve registered(paraphrasing mine)
Keeping in mind that under the terms of the EULA you have already agreed that Skyper can and will distribute its software via third parties, and those third parties will have access to your pc through Skyper software, and Skyper is not responsible for their actions.
And:
quote:
What Resources Do We Use and How Do We Use Them?
During the course of using Skype Software, disk space, bandwidth and processing power may be utilized to provide the Skype services to you and to communicate with other Skype users. From time-to-time your computer may become a Supernode. A Supernode is a computer running Skype Software that has been automatically elevated to act as a hub. Supernodes may assist in helping other users to communicate or use the Skype software efficiently. This may include the ability for your computer to help anonymously and securely facilitate communications between other users of the Skype Software who, due to network and firewall constraints, cannot establish direct connections. The system has been designed so that being a Supernode will not interfere with the normal operations of your computer
So where does that leave the Skyper user vis a vis third party distributors of Skyper software, who are not subject to the Skyper Privacy Policy? |
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MxxCon
join:1999-11-19
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
| reply to Vampirefo
said by Vampirefo :
From reading the Eula, I would say that anyone using this product has had their pc turned into a spam relay/delivery station.
These types of companies make their money from spam and spyware, all they need are mules(users) to install and use their program.
This tells me plain and simple the 3rd party software has nothing to do with using SKYPER, in fact you don't need it at all to use SKYPER and to communicate with other SKYPER users.
The only reason 3rd party software is installed is so SKYPER
Can make money from their mules.
Vampirefo , no offence but i don't think you have any idea what you are talking about here. Skype does not come with any 3rd party (spyware) application. if you'd completely read that EULA you'd see that they will be making money by making this service partially premium.
folks, please, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT KAZAA, SKYPE, SHARMAN NETWORKS OR ANY REASONS WHY YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, OR WHY YOUR CHEESE IS COVERED IN MOSS.
all i'm asking if anyone here know exact reasons for that clause or anyone experienced those 3rd parties communicating with your computer.
and this does exclude Vampirefo's raving about spam
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mens rea
Premium
join:2002-01-31
Canada
·Shaw
| said by MxxCon:
all i'm asking if anyone here know exact reasons for that clause
It is as said above, and in the EULA itself, standard legal boilerplate, which limits liability of the software manufacturer for any damages to your pc caused by its use by a third party, whether directly obtained from Skyler, or a third party distributor of this particular software manufacturer's product. As to who the third parties might be, or what damage may be done, well that depends on how you and others choose to use the software in the context of peer to peer chat. Either way Skyler doesn't want to be liable and is notifying you of that fact. |
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