Eavesdropping On Google Voice and Skype 62
Simmons writes with news of research that demonstrated vulnerabilities in Skype and Google Voice that would have allowed attackers to eavesdrop on calls or place unauthorized calls of their own. "The attacks on Google Voice and Skype use different techniques, but essentially they both work because neither service requires a password to access its voicemail system. For the Skype attack to work, the victim would have to be tricked into visiting a malicious Web site within 30 minutes of being logged into Skype. In the Google Voice attack (PDF), the hacker would first need to know the victim's phone number, but Secure Science has devised a way to figure this out using Google Voice's Short Message Service (SMS). Google patched the bugs that enabled Secure Science's attack last week and has now added a password requirement to its voicemail system, the company said in a statement. ... The Skype flaws have not yet been patched, according to James." Reader EricTheGreen contributes related news that eBay may sell Skype back to its original founders.
Re:Not nearly as interesting as you'd expect (Score:5, Funny)
Surely it would be trivial to pipe the calls through some voice recognition software? Then do a text search for 'credit card', 'creedal car', and maybe 'cricket Karl'.
Nerdy solution (Score:5, Funny)
For a minute there I thought there was a problem, but nerds have no friends so nobody calls you on Skype anyway.
Re:Unsurprising (Score:5, Funny)
Anyone expecting privacy on these systems is a fool. It's not like either of these companies is regulated in any way, to say nothing of the fact they provide their services over the Internet which you only have read /. for a day to know is not secure.
Exactly. The same goes for traditional cell service. Why just the other day, I was in the grocery store and someone was yacking away about some big business deal in the bread isle. I sat there "shopping" while this guy was talking about financing, etc, etc, etc...
Then, I moved over to the soda isle, this young chicky apparently was having boyfriend troubles and I offered to help but she got all indignant and looks at me like I was a perv or something.
Then, over in the fish isle, this middle aged guy was trying to figure out if he should get the Salmon or the Trout and asking his wife, I think, which should he get. I told him the Trout. Great stuff. Again the funny looks! I don't get it?
The bread isle, this person was pushing their cart talking away and I answered - god I hate those blue tooths! Same thing - weird looks!
I won't tell you about the guy on the street talking really loudly but without and Bluetooth or Cell - he asked me for money.
What was this again about privacy and phone calls? I forgot what we're talking about.
Re:Nerdy solution (Score:1, Funny)
Man, it's a sad day when even your mom doesn't dare enter her own basement to tell you that lunch is ready.
Re:Unsurprising (Score:2, Funny)
> Then, over in the fish isle
People like you are why I never shop on the islands.