Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

After reading that Skypekiller had more than 200 million downloads and 62 million regular users, according to Skypekiller website, it looks like people regularly uninstall Skype and reinstall it. Sometimes the stubborn problems with Skype is best treated by uninstalling it and reinstalling.
I think that the corporations have start to use Skype or increase in that sectore have also made removing skype a day to day task for System Admins. So I would like to point to one of my earlier articles, that told you howto, Uninstall Skype, Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with Skypekiller.

VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller

SkyperKiller site.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

VoIP IP Telephony @ Snapvoip.blogspot.com

The much debated about Skype BIOS dump that many people has written about, including me;VOIP IP Telephony: Skype dumps you BIOS info and sends home!
Has brought out an answer from Skype. Sorry we did it for DRM! Bummer!! (it is still called intrusion) The users found out. I found out at VOIPSA blog (and VOIPSA is still more kind to Skype than me. So if you feel bad about what I write, read his article! a link to the article is below), that Skype has provided a answer and a solution. But it is still lame.
It would have been much cleaner had you mentioned that before users found out. Remeber SONY root kit saga. People never seem to learn.
Kurt Sauer also provided the simple solution - upgrade to the latest Skype 3.0 version, 3.0.0.216, where they now use a version of this framework that no longer reads the BIOS.
So Kurt, What DO you read now?

Anyway if anyone feels that they need to remove skype, I have given a link to one of my former articles below.
Also another method is to run it on a Virtual Machine like I do. So Kurt what did my reading give you?
May be running it as a portable application might confuse Skype, run it at least on two three computers. Follow the links.

VOIPSA’s "How to avoid Skype 3.0 reading the BIOS of your system"

Remove Skype or Uninstall Skype

Skype’s explanation about BIOS dump

Skype’s promise that they seemed have forgotten

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

VoIP IP Telephony, Snapvoip.blogspot.com

According to a post appearing on pagetable describes how skype program called 1.com locatd in your computers;
“\??\C:\Documents and Settings\Myria\Local Settings\Temp\12\1.com”;
might be sending your BIOS information to server somewhere in Skype. Here is a snippet from the original authors publication, to which I have provided information below under links.

"An unreadable executable file coming from Skype sounds interesting, so I look at it. It’s 46 bytes long. For copyright reasons I can’t post the file or a complete disassembly. However, I can describe the program in terms of 16-bit DOS C:

int main(void)
{
fwrite((const void far*) 0xF0000000, 1, 0xFFFF, stdout);
fwrite((const void far*) 0xF000FFFF, 1, 1, stdout);
return 0;
}

It’s dumping your system BIOS, which usually includes your motherboard’s serial number, and pipes it to the Skype application. I have no idea what they’re using it for, or whether they send anything to their servers, but I bet whatever they’re doing is no good given their track record."

Well be it Skype, Microsoft or anyone sending back my information without my knowledge is not a good thing. So may be people might have to visit "remove Skype".

Links;
Pagetable "Skype reads your BIOS"
Remove skype from my own article;
VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

It has been long debated how skype gets through firewalls. Many a network admins have tried to block or stop skype at the perimeter have failed time and time again. May be that is the reason that VOIP IP Telephony: Number 1 article for 2006 is "remove Skype" at VOIP IP Telephony, all those admins trying to get rid of skype.
But the reason for this post is different. Now someone has written a technical article that reveals inner workings of skype through firewalls. That someone is Jürgen Schmidt of Heise Security. So head over to Heise Know how and you may find a way to patch your firewall like stopping UDP traffic.

Links;
Heise Security know how

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Happy New Year and may you have a very communicative year in 2007. Looking back Remove Skype, Stop Skype, a skypekiller instruction article, became the most viewed article for 2006. Thanks Skype, Skypekiller and all of you readers.
There were actually two articles, the latest is listed first.

VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller
VOIP IP Telephony: How to kill a Skype� / remove Skype� installs from your network!

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

The Skype, one of the leading VOIP IP Telephony solutions today, has much benefits and drawbacks to a user. Whatever the reason, the popularity of the application, shows that users are satisfied or it is providing whatever VOIP needs a user has.
Then again time and time, many network admins run around trying to find out how to stop skype users. Be it company policies, bandwidth usage or security reasons.
I have written earlier about "remove skype", one of the popular articles;
VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller.
But say you want to use skype application but do not want to be /or want to be a skype supernode, then the post;
VOIP IP Telephony: How to be or not to be a skype supernode?
should help.

But how about carrying your skype with you, and sneak past the admins that stopped your skype on your office computer? yes, you need "portable Skype".
The easiest method is to grab a U3 USB stick. U3 drive, according to the U3 sites statement;
"Imagine carrying your software on the same flash drive that carries your files. That’s what you can do with a U3 smart drive. You can plug it into any PC and work, play a game, message friends, send email, edit photos and more. A U3 smart drive makes any PC your own PC. And when you unplug it, it leaves no personal data behind."

U3 sticks are available everywhere now, this weekend I picked up a 2GB for around $45 from OfficeMax. Check your local weekly ad from OfficeMax.

So what is "portable Skype"?, according to the U3 site description;
"Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to your friends all over the world:

- With superior call quality, Skype is the best ever for talking, laughing and sharing stories through both voice and video.
- You can chat with up to 50 people at the same time, or make conference calls.
- Secure and encrypted communication - nobody’s able to listen in.
- Fast transfer of big files.
- Personalize your Skype — play around with sounds, ringtones and pictures to show the world who you are.

Useful things that cost a little
You can talk to anyone over the Internet for free with Skype, and you’ll always be able to do that. There are some other useful things you can do on Skype that aren’t free (but they’re pretty cheap, actually):

- SkypeOut is a low-cost way to make calls from Skype to traditional landlines or mobile phones or send SMS messages.
- SkypeIn is a phone number so people can call you from traditional phones or mobiles.
- Skype Voicemail takes your calls when you’re busy or offline.
- You can also forward your Skype calls on to mobiles, landlines and other Skype Names.

System Requirements
- U3 smart drive
- Microsoft Windows 2000 / Windows XP"

So get that USB Stick and make your Skype portable, among other things that you can do with 2GB USB stick.
I erased U3 software and loaded Linux, so I can run my Linux desktop, where ever I go!

Links;
U3 Portable Skype

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

The Skype, one of the leading VOIP IP Telephony solutions today, has much benefits and drawbacks to a user. Whatever the reason, the popularity of the application, shows that users are satisfied or it is providing whatever VOIP needs a user has.
Then again time and time, many network admins run around trying to find out how to stop skype users. Be it company policies, bandwidth usage or security reasons.
I have written earlier about "remove skype", one of the popular articles;
VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller.
But say you want to use skype application but do not want to be /or want to be a skype supernode, then the post;
VOIP IP Telephony: How to be or not to be a skype supernode?
should help.

But how about carrying your skype with you, and sneak past the admins that stopped your skype on your office computer? yes, you need "portable Skype".
The easiest method is to grab a U3 USB stick. U3 drive, according to the U3 sites statement;
"Imagine carrying your software on the same flash drive that carries your files. That’s what you can do with a U3 smart drive. You can plug it into any PC and work, play a game, message friends, send email, edit photos and more. A U3 smart drive makes any PC your own PC. And when you unplug it, it leaves no personal data behind."

U3 sticks are available everywhere now, this weekend I picked up a 2GB for around $45 from OfficeMax. Check your local weekly ad from OfficeMax.

So what is "portable Skype"?, according to the U3 site description;
"Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to your friends all over the world:

- With superior call quality, Skype is the best ever for talking, laughing and sharing stories through both voice and video.
- You can chat with up to 50 people at the same time, or make conference calls.
- Secure and encrypted communication - nobody’s able to listen in.
- Fast transfer of big files.
- Personalize your Skype — play around with sounds, ringtones and pictures to show the world who you are.

Useful things that cost a little
You can talk to anyone over the Internet for free with Skype, and you’ll always be able to do that. There are some other useful things you can do on Skype that aren’t free (but they’re pretty cheap, actually):

- SkypeOut is a low-cost way to make calls from Skype to traditional landlines or mobile phones or send SMS messages.
- SkypeIn is a phone number so people can call you from traditional phones or mobiles.
- Skype Voicemail takes your calls when you’re busy or offline.
- You can also forward your Skype calls on to mobiles, landlines and other Skype Names.

System Requirements
- U3 smart drive
- Microsoft Windows 2000 / Windows XP"

So get that USB Stick and make your Skype portable, among other things that you can do with 2GB USB stick.
I erased U3 software and loaded Linux, so I can run my Linux desktop, where ever I go!

Links;
U3 Portable Skype

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

The Skype, one of the leading VOIP IP Telephony solutions today, has much benefits and drawbacks to a user. Whatever the reason, the popularity of the application, shows that users are satisfied or it is providing whatever VOIP needs a user has.
Then again time and time, many network admins run around trying to find out how to stop skype users. Be it company policies, bandwidth usage or security reasons.
I have written earlier about "remove skype", one of the popular articles;
VOIP IP Telephony: Remove skype, stop skype or detect skype with skypekiller.
But say you want to use skype application but do not want to be /or want to be a skype supernode, then the post;
VOIP IP Telephony: How to be or not to be a skype supernode?
should help.

But how about carrying your skype with you, and sneak past the admins that stopped your skype on your office computer? yes, you need "portable Skype".
The easiest method is to grab a U3 USB stick. U3 drive, according to the U3 sites statement;
"Imagine carrying your software on the same flash drive that carries your files. That’s what you can do with a U3 smart drive. You can plug it into any PC and work, play a game, message friends, send email, edit photos and more. A U3 smart drive makes any PC your own PC. And when you unplug it, it leaves no personal data behind."

U3 sticks are available everywhere now, this weekend I picked up a 2GB for around $45 from OfficeMax. Check your local weekly ad from OfficeMax.

So what is "portable Skype"?, according to the U3 site description;
"Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to your friends all over the world:

- With superior call quality, Skype is the best ever for talking, laughing and sharing stories through both voice and video.
- You can chat with up to 50 people at the same time, or make conference calls.
- Secure and encrypted communication - nobody’s able to listen in.
- Fast transfer of big files.
- Personalize your Skype — play around with sounds, ringtones and pictures to show the world who you are.

Useful things that cost a little
You can talk to anyone over the Internet for free with Skype, and you’ll always be able to do that. There are some other useful things you can do on Skype that aren’t free (but they’re pretty cheap, actually):

- SkypeOut is a low-cost way to make calls from Skype to traditional landlines or mobile phones or send SMS messages.
- SkypeIn is a phone number so people can call you from traditional phones or mobiles.
- Skype Voicemail takes your calls when you’re busy or offline.
- You can also forward your Skype calls on to mobiles, landlines and other Skype Names.

System Requirements
- U3 smart drive
- Microsoft Windows 2000 / Windows XP"

So get that USB Stick and make your Skype portable, among other things that you can do with 2GB USB stick.
I erased U3 software and loaded Linux, so I can run my Linux desktop, where ever I go!

Links;
U3 Portable Skype

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Skype the Internet Phone service seems to have done more than letting people talk free or at lower cost.
Skype seems to have brought many a couples together and ended up in marriages, Alana Semuels reports. Mark Passerby and Salwa Al-Saban were separated by the Atlantic Ocean, a time difference of seven hours and vast cultural contrasts. He lived in Lansing, Mich., she in Egypt’s capital, Cairo.They say they fell in love over Skype, a service that allows users to call each other free over the Internet. In November 2005, a month after they first "clicked" online, they married.
The software routes phone calls over the Internet, substituting voice for instant messages. Web mail services such as Google, MSN and Yahoo also allow customers to make Net phone calls.
Since it was founded in 2003, Skype has added voice mail and video communication. The service says it has more than 100 million users. At first, Skype was used mostly by people who already knew each other: spouses on business trips, camp friends and college students. Then specialized dating Web sites discovered Skype, and its role as a matchmaker started growing.

On most online dating sites, singles send messages to one another, but "it takes an awful long time for them to find out if they’re compatible," said David Finlay, the co-owner of SomeoneNew.com, a 14,000-member dating site. Finlay says that by using Skype, people on his Web site are able to determine whether they’re compatible after one or two phone calls.
Skype has spawned love connections between Belgians and Japanese, Germans and Israelis, Americans and Egyptians and even a Guatemalan nail technician and a Canadian.
But not all are that happy;
Some psychologists say a relationship created and sustained by Net phone can be incomplete. Net phone contact is "simultaneously allowing people to become more intimate and yet have less patience with real life and real-time human fumbles and foibles," said Linda Young, a psychologist at Seattle University who has counseled many students who have sustained or developed relationships over Skype.
I thank all these users that make love happen over the phone, and keep those super nodes up, so we all can make skype calls. May be after getting married or breaking up, they can remove skype!

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

All complaints and concerns about Skype revolves around a PC using Skype becoming a super node. I have written about removing skype many a times because it seems hard for regular PC user.
I have been looking for information about operating Skype and yet not be a supernode. Not much information is available from skype itself and I cannot test any other way. Because Skype EULA specifically warns you against modifying or changing software and you must read it completely if you are a user of Skype. Also 4.1 explains the usage of your computer resources for skype network.
But there are other ways that you can still use Skype and not be a super node, while not violating Skype EULA. May be Network admins should adopt educating users or Skype should give an option of a user not becoming a supernode if he or she wishes to. One caveat in this method is that you have to trust the user to follow the procedures.
I found this information on Fermilab, High-Energy Physics, the science of matter, space and time research lab belonging to the US government.
The page describing Skype usage on the site states;
"Skype (www.skype.com) is a free P2P (peer to peer) application that provides free voice-over-IP communication over the Internet. Use of Skype on systems attached to the Laboratory network is not prohibited per se. However, Skype calls are routed across the Skype network through other Skype systems, called SuperNodes. Any system running the Skype application runs the risk of surreptitiously being elevated to the status of SuperNode. Computers with a fast connection to Internet (such as at Fermilab), combined with high speed CPU, are most likely to become SuperNodes. A SuperNode can generate a considerable amount of traffic by opening a large number of concurrent connections for off-site systems, even after the local user has discontinued using the Skype application on his system. Generally, the user needs to reboot his system to stop the SuperNode call-routing activity."
The article further states how you can limit skype and prevent it from becoming a supernode without having to resort to remove skype type action!
"Based on extended testing by the Fermilab Networking Section, a procedure has been developed to configure systems to run the Skype application, without becoming a Supernode. The testing has been conducted on a Windows XP system, however the general approach and configuration settings should be applicable to other platforms & operating systems. These procedures work with the current release of Skype. There is no guarantee these procedures will function properly in future releases."

1. For Windows XP Skype version 2.0.0.97 or greater should be installed. For Linux or MacOS the most current version of Skype should be used.
2. The user should configure his system such that Skype is not loaded at startup.
3. A software firewall must be installed and enabled.
* Windows XP firewall or Zone Alarm are examples of suitable firewalls for XP
4. Exceptions for Skype must be disabled or deleted in the firewall setup.
* Windows XP Firewall: Settings>Control Panel>Windows Firewall>Exceptions

Detailed Configuration Instructions are located below under Instructions for Skype Configuration.

This configuration should prevent the local system from becoming a SuperNode.
One can also use Zonelab’s Zonealarm to perform the same firewall configuration. Just prevent Skype from becoming a server.

Explanation for #2

Explanation for #4

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

It has been told many a times that Skype® tend to disrupt regular network operations, even if you are not on a call. I have noticed that on my own network and the moment all skype tasks were removed it went away. But you reboot the computer and good old skype is up to it’s tasks of being a super node. This is with only one computer being used for skype and I hate to imagine a network with multiple supernodes. If you have a large network and if you have many skype users, you will have to ban using skype use in your network. Due to the way skype operates, it is hard to stop it at the edge routers or firewalls. How skype operates is an another article.

Read my own article about universities banning skype use.

If you missed reading it when you installed skype, then read this single sentence within Skype’s 4,300-word end-user license agreement:

"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 Skype Software users."
And I hope you knew what you were agreeing to.

How does Skype jumps through firewalls and NAT routers, The Register has the explanation.

I know only of Two solutions that is capable of filtering out skype, Verso, according to Verso’s website " Verso’s new carrier grade application filter solves the problem by preventing undesirable, 3rd party traffic from entering acarrierss network." But I don’t like them either, I don’t like their business angle.
I am talking about corporate or individual users controlling their computers and networks, Verso is providing solutions to carriers and ISP to block anything that not their own solutions. Read third party!

According to Networkworld article, "According to Skype - and validated by our research - a VoIP call will consume between 24 and 128K bit/sec. When a Skype station is functioning as a relay, the bandwidth is doubled. (We found instances when calls between adjacent stations were relayed to somewhere a continent away.)". So if your connection to internet is a DSL 384/128, your total upload space might be taken by Skype!
Yes there is another site that has tools to show you the usage of VOIP/SKYPE, IPOQUE. Their product is much better. I think this is much better suited to a network administrator than to a regular user. This is a blurb from IPOQUE site about the VOIP/SKYPE info;
" Voice over IP VoIP/Skype

Voice over IP (VoIP) has become one of the most-widely used Internet applications. The VoIP filter allows companies to gain insight in and control over their employees’ VoIP usage. It allows Internet service providers to offer differentiated services and to control the VoIP bandwidth consumption in their networks.
The VoIP module supports SIP and Skype. "
But the tool can do much more than that, But be aware, it is a hardware device.

But for regular users, like you and me there are other tools. Here I am describing one of my favorite tools, skypekiller and how to use it. Read on…

Removing skype is not easy. You cannot stop it from starting up, even if you have tried to disable it from the startup group, windows firewall cannot stop it, unless you are an expert on windows, it is hard to stop or control skype. Even if you uninstall it it mighstillil be lingering somewhere in your computer.
So what does a regular user save him or herself from this application? One need to remove it, there are a couple of ways that one could do it. Do some registry hacking and follow some uninstall procedures (See the end of the article for this information). Or you can remove skype, by using skypekiller.

I think it is the most easiest way for any user. And here is how to..
So I have taken liberty of introducing the application and the procedures together with screen captures.

To stop skype, remove skype or just to list skype users, you will need first to down load the skypekiller, It is free but you have to register in order to download.

Then install it on a windows workstation or a server and make sure that a connection to your network is up and ready. If it in a domain, make sure thecomputer you are installing is a domain member. This will make procedures much easier.

Now fireup SK and Select the default clean mode or Click the "Detect only" option if you just want to list Skype® installs.

Now is time to setup Filtering
You can apply filters to determine the type of target computers on which Skype® is to be removed. For example you can choose to run SkypeKiller only on your workstations.

Once filtering is setup, you need to Select Target Computers
Select target computers. You can browse to quickly add computers from your global catalog…

or Domain controllers.

Now that you have a selection of computers, it is time for Execution
Click on Execute, a progress window will display the operation.

Now is time to go and get your other work done or have cup of coffee. You can come back to check Result analysis.
SkypeKiller will indicate success or failure of the removal for each previously selected system.

Like any other network application, you also can schedule periodic runs of the SK.


To be sure, I would run a "detect only" first and record the results. Then I will pull out my network monitoring tool (Omnipeek, a free Netwotk detection tool)to check onbandwidththth usage using omnipeek personal. It is better to run these tests during peek hours. Again run Skypekiller and remove listed installations. Once the Clean step is done run the network detection tool again. You will be able to see just roughly how much bandwidth tparticularlyarer VOIP or IP Telephony application/S was/were using.

According to Skypekiller documentation, during the clean up process, following registry keys and directories are deleted. So if you are handy with your computer, you manuallyuall perform the same functions to have a skype free computer. If you still need a VOIP application that does not violate normal network rules, look at gizmo project.

In each profile (system and user) the following registry keys/values are deleted:
"Software\Skype\Phone"
"Software\Skype"
"Software\Microsoft\WindCurrentVersionsion\Uninstall\Skype_is1"
"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List\%CheminSkype.exe%"
"Software\Classes\.skype"
"Software\Classes\skype"
"Software\Classes\Skype.Content"
"Software\Classes\Skype.Detection"
"Software\Classes\CLSID\{9E385F0A-0BA2-430C-96AA-4399C5E40F6C}"

The following files/folders are deleted in each profile (including the "All Users" profile):
"%ProfilUtilisateur%\Desktop\Skype.lnk"
"%ProfilUtilisateur%\MY Documents\My Skype Pictures"
"%ProfilUtilisateur%\Application data\Skype"
"%ProfilUtilisateur%\Menu Startup\Programmes\Skype"
"%ProfilUtilisateur%\SendTo\Skype.lnk"

The Skype® install folder is also deleted:
"C:\Program files\Skype\Phone"
ou "%ProfilUtilisateur%\Local Settings\Application Data\Skype\Phone"

or other paths depending if the install folder was changed during Skype´s install.

Check regularly for updates here when SK updates its application.
If you are wondering why should I remove skype, Read the following articles;
Skype explains why security evaluation omitted bug reports
Should businesses ban Skype?

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Silicon Valley blog reports about San Jose State University is going to stop SKYPE within the campus network. I just finished reading the document by CERN (the birthplace of the World Wide Web.) why it does not want skype on it’s net work,
excerpt from the document;
"Skype P2P telephony: the privacy policy of Skype violates CERN’s Computing Rules by bypassing firewall protections and offering services to others. For further details on Skype restrictions at CERN look at http://cern.ch/security/skype."
Following in the footsteps of the University of California-Santa Barbara and California State University-Dominguez Hills, SJSU plans to ban use of the pioneering VoIP system on its network because installation of the client software allows machines to serve as third-party relays for phone calls, chat and messages.
Luckily, eBay, which owns Skype, is located nearby, and the university has invited some company reps to come over on Tuesday and see if there’s a way to work things out. Jennifer Caukin, a spokeswoman for eBay, said Skype was looking forward to having "a direct dialogue with SJSU officials to discuss their concerns and educate them about how Skype works." And you better believe Skype will put a lot into that lesson plan, given the stakes should this get to be a trend.
Techdirt also reports on the article. With a bunch of comments. So if you have skype installed and need to remove them;
For Linux read this weblog
For windows read this weblog. Which I will rewrite soon, due to poor presentation.
Happy VOIPing.