Skype is an easy target for hacking and offers a way inside a corporate network.That’s according to a report from managed security company Network Box, which said Skype could be undermined by a malevolent insider working to open hidden backdoors.It’s more bad news for Skype, following a week in which its users have struggled with crippling service outages.In the short report, “Skype—Friend of Foe?” Network Box suggests how the program could be compromised. Because Skype uses a proprietary protocol to evade detection, it could not only stymie blocking systems, but if hijacked would also be a perfect system to compromise the security of any communications made using it. Any built-in hack would be invisible to corporate security systems until it was too late. “The security of the Skype system depends entirely on the goodwill of Skype’s programmers and the organization running Skype’s back-end servers. It is possible that there are backdoors in the system, allowing the Skype organization—or others—to eavesdrop or record Skype conversations,” the report says.In addition to hiding itself, Skype has established a cycle of continuous upgrades that made effective detection and management tricky. “The Skype program can update itself every time it runs, so the security over the overall system can change without warning or even a change in appearance. Systems could be brought down by an error in this download.”With last week’s outages in mind, it concludes that even companies willing to use the program in a proxy setup should assume a degree of unreliability and insecurity when compared to running standards-based VoIP over a VPN.Other recommendations include being careful about the identity of apparently legitimate Skype contacts, using a log-in for Skype not used to access any other system, and making sure that Skype users inside companies don’t identify the companies they are working for in their user names or Skype profiles.Worries over Skype’s security are nothing new, something the company has attempted to address with a business version that claims to be easier for IT administrators to manage and control.— John E. Dunn, Techworld.com Related content news Chinese state actors behind espionage attacks on Southeast Asian government The distinct groups of activities formed three different clusters, each attributed to a specific APT group. By Shweta Sharma Sep 25, 2023 4 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks feature How to pick the best endpoint detection and response solution EDR software has emerged as one of the preeminent tools in the CISO’s arsenal. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing EDR software. By Linda Rosencrance Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Intrusion Detection Software Security Monitoring Software Data and Information Security feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Data and Information Security IT Leadership brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe