Skype user reports protocol hack
A Chinese company says it has reverse-engineered the Skype protocol, allowing it to place calls over Skype's Voice over Internet Protocol network.
A poster on the VoIPWiki blog, Charlie Paglee, said he received a Skype call originating in a Chinese company, according to a report by vnunet.com.
"The first time we talked there was a noticeable echo on my end. The second time the voice quality was crystal clear," Paglee said via the report.
"Right now every computer with Skype installed can be used as a relay to carry data between two other computers when both of those computers are only allowed to make outgoing Transmission Control Protocol calls," Paglee wrote.
"This means that very soon Skype users will have an alternative client which will not hijack their computer.
"This could eventually have a very negative effect on the Skype network if too many people choose not to act as Skype Supernodes and the network starts to deteriorate."
The company currently only supports peer-to-peer calling but plans to add instant messaging and user status information in the near future, according to the report.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
