Just the fact that this is implemented and the eula doesn’t clearly allow for it makes me wonder what other undocumented “implementations” skype offers…
…and doesn’t China have a special version that they HAVE to use?

I think my point is, if they are not going to do anything harmful, why don’t they say so in the EULA?

If they aren’t doing anything harmful, how about showing us the source code?

If they aren’t going to do anything harmful, why do they require our permission to do so?

Yes, big deal. How much isn’t stated. Which is great for you. That gives you the green light to sound the alarm bell that the sky is falling and Skype is going to take over your computer first and the world second.

Please. There isn’t anything "Virus" like about the program at all, not do you have the proper knowledge to even define what a virus actually is. Criminals will use any system. Word of mouth, telephone, snail mail, or message in a bottle. The encryption system is used to keep phone calls and IM from being leaked to other users in the network, and is a nice feature for those living in a country like China. Unlike you, I’ve actually used the program. It works great, I pay a flat rate to call phone in the USA unlimited, and .02 cents a minute to China.

You’re like a child. Always crying "Mine, mine, mine!" What good are you to the rest of us? What good is a society where everyone is only concerned for themselves and scoffs at the very idea of sharing any resource or utility with another? So a small portion of bandwidth and CPU time are given to a network which benefits the others that use it. Not a problem for most people. But a selfish bastard like you? That’s ground for all out war.

"There is a lot of paranoia here – I take it you are all american and have probably been abducted by aliens as well. Anyway, as A user said – sit behind a firewall – problem solved. The routing element of skype is NOT fundamental as it only tries to speed up the calls between point to point – in most instances the two IPs will communicate directly, hence sitting behind a firewall will not denegrate the Skype network.
And as for Mr Blog who reckons skype deterred others from quoting his blog – yeah right, whatever !!! Did they send the boys round and ask them not to. Maybe the feds paid them a visit huh ? Or the secrect service ? Why people feel the need to knock skype is beyond me – p2p and the cumulative power of internet linked hardware is clearly the way forward in computer technology, but dinosaurs dont like change I guess… "

Skype’s EULA states "4.1 Permission to utilize Your computer. In order to receive the benefits provided by the Skype Software, you hereby grant permission for the Skype Software to utilize the processor and bandwidth of Your computer for the limited purpose of facilitating the communication between You and other Skype Software users."

You can

no skype no mor for me…

I read the privacy statement, and i did find this entire thread’s topic alarming also, as it implied using my computer as a node to carry other conversations which may not even involve me at all. But i also came accross more that i was interested in…

My question to you guys since you strike me to be well informed on the subject and program, is, as i believe i was reading in the privacy statement, is it true that skype uses the transmission data (our conversations) for marketing purposes and hence assumes full authority of our conversations and the content? Can they read our conversations like a book on their server screens? I’m not paranoid, however, i am only being reasonable to my natural inhertied right to a private conversation without having the marketing world analyze, use, and sell segments of my personal data they feel useful.

#3, Does anyone here know of any more secure, private, respected internet telephone services (programs) that you may ultimately pay a little more for, but gain with privacy? I think a few extra pennies/min are worth some privacy.

#4 Maybe i am wrong about how Skype handels the conversational content, but please feel free to point out otherwise.
Thanks,
ladi ladi

Further, in many countries you become responsible for communications routed through your network.

http://www.skypesee.com

Fantastic ! and long overdue