Free phone calls through the web

malrc · Post by **malrc** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 2:52 pm

I've just been using a service provided by Skype dot com that allows you to use your computer as a phone. Basically you both need internet connection and microphone/speakers/headset and to register and download their software to your machine. Once you are both registered then you select them into your contacts directory and it will show you when they are on line (you can show yourself as being unavailable) and you can call them.
There is also the faclity to set up conference calls (for a family chat) if you wish.
This seems to be a genuine serice and I can't find any reference to it having viruses although the new XP firewall won't let it through automatically.
Anyway some of you might find it a low cost way to keep in touch with friends and relatives whilst in Portugal.
Hope this is of interest
Malcolm

Debs G · Post by **Debs G** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:50 pm

I have used this here in the UK and it works fine. Its my understanding that you have to have a broadband connection though.

iane · Post by **iane** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:35 pm

Even better - through Skype you can also now use a "prepayment" service that allows you to call landline phones in 22 countries (including Chile !!) for €0.017 per minute - the other night my wife rang her sister in UK for god knows how long and it cost 14 cents. The service is called SkypeOut and downloads with the normal Skype software (although sometimes you sound like Norman Collier at the other end but Im sure theyll sort that gradually).

iane · Post by **iane** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:36 pm

PS to Debs G - You dont need to have broadband but it works better if you do

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:49 am

Skype works on something called peer to peer networking. So the more people that use it the better quality the service will be

So far I have found it to be very good and much better than the usual internet phone systems.

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:16 am

Apart from the calling landlines bit, does skype work like Messenger. It looks very similar.

When you aren't calling landlines, how do they make a profit? Do you get bombarded with adverts or something.

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 1:48 pm

I've installed and played a bit. It has both IM type functionality as well as peer to peer voice and very good quality - most of the time.

Yes, its all free, so how will they make money ?

When an Internet company goes public, they are valued at $10.00 per subscriber - nothing to do with profit/revenue/sales. Think about it !

digger · Post by **digger** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 3:37 pm

…so…could this mean when they go private it will no longer be free of charge????? [sorry if I sound a bit dim….

.....just want to know if it’s worth investigating]…

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:10 am

I was just looking something completely different up and found this.

Similarly, Skype P2P telephony software is not permitted on CERN's computing or network facilities. The privacy policy of Skype violates CERN's Computing Rules by bypassing firewall protections and offering services to others. Further details on Skype restrictions at CERN are available at http://cern.ch/security/skype.

Was on http://security.web.cern.ch/security/so ... trictions/ and to quote from the link

"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."

So that's a very big 'No thankyou' then. If something seems to good to be true, then in nearly all cases is.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:38 pm

As a non techie I am not sure what this means. If one's PC is well protected with firewall and antivirus software can it still be used as a hub and if it can what are the security implications? I can see that traffic levels could rise dramatically but would the security of personal data on the PC used as the hub be compromised in any way that could have financial consequences for the owner?

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:51 pm

It looks like skype will run software on your computer that is used to communicate somehow to other users. If you have something like that going on, there is a possibility that a hacker could gain access. More likely if skype gets more popular which would make it more of a target. If a hacker does gain access, they can do anything they like with your pc. It is reckoned that at least 1/3rd of spam is sent from hacked pc's. A customer of mine, rather stupidly, switched off Zonealarm for a day and ended up sending out a lot of printer cartridge spam. This continued even when Zonealarm was back on because the hacker had installed a set of software to circumvent Zonealarm. They called me in when they started getting a stream of bounced emails from invalid addresses, hundreds of them. Nothing to do with a virus so the AV software wasn't bothered.
I'm not saying this will happen, just that it could. To me, the risk is not worth taking. It's a similar situation to peer to peer programmes like kazaa and bittorrent. In these you are sharing folders with anyone who likes to access it. Windows is pretty insecure anyway, I can't see the point in inviting people in, and especially not in allowing someone to remotely execute something on your pc which doesn't even have a reasonable description of what it does.
Personal opinion obviously, may well be all just fine, but I wouldn't like to try it and see.
Virii and worms can completely wreck a pc so that the data is effectively lost. Most people don't bother to back anything up, so that could mean All your data is gone.
Happy situation isn't it. What you have to bear in mind is that there are a lot of people trying to take over your pc. It's reckoned that a new pc on broadband can be taken over in 20 mins from switch on. That is, while you are sorting out the Internet connection, downloading a firewall and updating the virus definitions, you've been got at.

petermeachem · Post by **petermeachem** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:06 pm

Notice that cern say 'bypassing firewall protections', and I would hazard a guess that their firewall is better than yours.