Saying Goodbye to Skype

===Saying Goodbye to Skype===

Non-profit and free for redistribution
Written on August 10th | 2016
Published on August 10th | 2016

For entertainment and research purposes only

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===DISCLAIMER===
The Paranoid's Bible and its writers hold no responsibility for the acts of others.

The Paranoid’s Bible is for research and entertainment purposes only.

Please visit our blog for more PDFs and information: http://www.paranoidsbible.tumblr.com/

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===Preface===
Skype’s an application meant to provide communication and sharing, to the user, by allowing not only chatting but also voice call services, the possibility to exchange files and video messaging. It was released originally in 2003 and then acquired by Ebay in 2005. From there, shares were bought and sold until Microsoft bought it and claimed ownership in 2011. Since then, Skype has become a perpetual thorn in the sides of those wish to remain not only anonymous but attain some semblance of privacy.

__References:__
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

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===Why Skype Shouldn’t be Used===
Even if you’re not a fan of Stallman’s, anyone who’s concerned with privacy and security knows that the bearded one is someone to listen to from time-to-time. On one such occasion, it’s best to listen to the man when it comes to discussion of Skype’s horrendous behavior with the user’s information.

His interjections aside, he does make several points, which you can read below.

• Skype refuses to say whether it can eavesdrop on calls. That almost certainly means it can do so.
• Skype gave personal data about a Wikileaks supporter to another company without any legal obligation to do so.
• Skype churns the meaning of preference settings, and gives its users a run-around when someone cheats them.
• Microsoft has changed Skype to make it easier for states to snoop on users.
• Skype messages are not encrypted for the whole trip: Microsoft can read them. And Microsoft does read them.

Those reasons alone will trigger a heightened response from the most paranoid privacy enthusiasts; however the layman and those who think they’ve nothing to worry about won’t give second thought to those issues. Though, knowing that a regular person with no real power can obtain several pieces of their information should be enough to put a burn into several bellies.

Many people have written articles about Skype, like this one from Eric Martindale (https://www.ericmartindale.com/2013/02/07/why-i-dont-use-skype-and-why-you-shouldnt-either). It goes into details about Skype continuously sending encrypted traffic, snooping and even hindering activists and rebellions in non-Western countries.

Of course, that’s just more technical mumbo jump. Not many care if people discuss several points of Skype’s lack privacy or malicious ADs. And honestly, why should you care when it’s so easy to just ignore the problem and buy a new computer or hire someone to fix the issue?

Well… anyone can happen upon your information and use it to gain access to your other accounts or information. It’s as simple searching Skype with usernames or an e-mail addressed. Actually, it’s quite easy using any one of the numerous Skype resolvers out there or Skype bots that offer anything from checking for your e-mail address to your IP or even your avatars and a copy of your profile.

This may not seem like much, however in the right hands it can lead to a nasty little surprise, like being doxed or someone using the information to use a Skype convo generator to fake you chatting with someone or saying things you’ve said.

***This is why you should fear Skype:*** It can be used against you and ruin anything you’ve planned or built.

__References:__
https://stallman.org/skype.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/07/20/skype_won_t_comment_on_whether_it_can_now_eavesdrop_on_conversations_.html
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2012/11/09/skype_gave_data_on_a_teen_wikileaks_supporter_to_a_private_company_without.html
http://www.nnsquad.org/archives/nnsquad/msg07079.html
http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/05/think-your-skype-messages-get-end-to-end-encryption-think-again/
http://fossforce.com/2013/05/microsoft-snoops-in-skype-dissed-by-hp-more/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data
https://muchweb.me/why-you-shouldnt-use-skype
https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/02/skype-ads-angler-exploit-kit/
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===In Case You Need Skype…===
Now before we introduce you to a lovely alternative to Skype, we should explain, just in case of school or work, how to secure your Skype account and retain just a tiny bit of privacy and security. This won’t make you 100% secure or anonymous, nor will it stop Mr.NSA agent from spying on you. However it’ll put a clamper into several works of any normal, non-government, person and their attempts at gaining your information.

First off, let’s make it simple and start with the easiest settings and work our way down. You'll want to set these exactly, as they'll help you still use Skype but lessen the overall data you give out.

Tools > Options > General > General Settings:
The below settings are set for the purpose of decongesting startup and lessening the resource Skype originally eats up when you boot Windows.
• Everything disabled/unchecked
• Tick/enable "profile pictures"


Tools > Options > General > Video Settings:
The purpose for thise is to prevent automatic sharing of screens and video. Several bots have been known to add people and quickly ask for screen sharing or video-chat to record or whatever, it's very rare but still a concern. This just ensures you're notified and forced to allow or disallow invites.
• Select "No one"


Tools > Options > General > Skype WiFi:
In general, it's good practice to avoid the use of WiFi. It's even better to avoid using Skype on your mobile phone/smartphone.
• Disable/untick everything


Tools > Options > General > Skype Translator:
Less stuff for Skype to use against you, also uses less resources.
• Disable/untick everything


Tools > Options > Privacy > Privacy settings:
Ensure you've selected "Advanced Options".
• People in my contact list only
• No one
• People in my contact list only
• Drop down > No history
• Last two unchecked/disabled


Tools > Options > Calls > Call Settings:
Forces you to ensure you don't allow calls from just anyone, other than that it's just more secure this way.
• People in my contact list only
• Show call controlls when Skype is in the background
• Untick/disable everything else


Tools > Options > Calls > Video Settings:
Just another precautionary tweak.
• No one


Tools > Options > IM & SMS > IM settings:
Cleaner look, less data grabbed in case your rig or profile's grabbed.
• People in my contact list only
• Dropdrown menu > no history
• Open a new window when I receive a new message in split window view
• Quote copied messages
• Send message
• Untick/disable "show when I am typing"
• Choose a folder to save the file in every time

Tools > Options > IM & SMS > IM appearance:
Cleaner look, less data grabbed in case your rig or profile's grabbed.
• Untick/disable compact chat view
• Tick/enable Show images and other media previews
• Tick/enable show link previews
• Everything else is unticked/disabled

Tools > Options > Advanced > Advanced settings:
Meat & potatoes here.
• Untick/disable everything


Tools > Options > Advanced > Automatic updates:
Never let anything automatically uptate.
• Ensure it's disabled


Tools > Options > Advanced > Connections:
Don't use TOR with skype, as it's unwise to do so besides being unsafe. This is due to Microsoft's Skype having control over the encryption keys and not the user. This means they can decrypt and encrypt regardless of what you wish to accomplish, ergo ruining anything you plan or discuss and making it an open book for the government or anyone willing to flash enough cash. It's also dangerous due to skype block certain exit relays, which could potentially lead to your IP being leaked.

If you really need to hipe your IP while using Skype, invest in a VPN to use. This will help you lessen the risk of your IP being leaked without increase your risk of being flagged by Microsoft.

Now, you’re not protected, in the slightest, however you’re not naked either. It’s like finding and putting on a pair of boxer shorts when you’ve nothing else to protect you during a violent, highly acidic rain of pain and even greater pain. It helps, albeit in a minuscule amount.

It won’t protect you 100% from resolvers or bots, yet it’s better than nothing.

Before you continue any further, we’ve a few more things to  do to further help you lock down your profile and prevent as much data leakage as possible when it comes to using Skype. Now, before we proceed, ***I’d like to remind you:*** Skype’s bad.

Click your avatar (circular image) or select Skype > Profile > Edit Profile, or simply just CTRL + I it

Your username should be one that you’ve used nowhere else. Your nick/nick-name shouldn’t be related to you, at all, and has been used nowhere else. None of those two should be related to you, at all, in the real world.

Your mood/quote shouldn’t exist or be something random and not related to you, at all, in the real world.

Your avatar should be randomized or, at the very least, a smug anime girl to upset people.

Phone numbers should never be posted on the internet or insert into your Skype. The same applies for e-mall addresses, except for the one you’ve used to create the account. That e-mail address shouldn’t be used for anything other than Skype and nothing else.

All settings should be set to either “Contacts” or “Private”.

Everything here should be either left blank, purposely false (different gender, timezone, b-date…etc) and set to either “Private” or “Contacts” to ensure no-one can learn of your information or try to learn of your information.

This, again, will help hinder anyone from truly being able to use anything against you; however the government has better toys than some hobbled together resolver or a slightly modified bot.

***Again, avoid Skype, if possible.***

It’s also best to mention that, for the sake of covering all bases, that you can block ADs and do some slight modifications to Skype to make it less of a resource hog and potential malware bomb. It’s quite simple and easy to do.

First off, depending on your version of Windows, simply do the following:

Go to control panel > internet options
Or
Control panel > Network and Internet > Internet options

From there, search for the security tab. Select, from there, the “Restricted sites” option and open the “Sites” dialog with the button indicated.

Add these two sites to the blocked websites: apps.skype.com & g.msn.com

Now you shouldn’t see any Ads, however that doesn’t mean Microsoft won’t add any new AD networks. Please look into our “Host Files” guide @ our Library (https/www.paranoidsbible.tumblr.com/library) located on our blog. We also wish to remind you that you shouldn’t ever accept anyone’s friend’s request unless you know who it is and can trust them. Block all non-trusted requests and accounts. Take the initiative and look online for a bot block-list. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to trying to use Skype and remain secure.

If you wish to abandon Skype, ensure everything’s blanked out or replaced with a single character (+, _, =, -…etc). It’s also wise to put a simple white image up as your avatar, too, and block and delete everyone from the account. Never access the account, unless you wish to waste an hour, each day, for a week to flush your IP out and replace it with a random proxy or VPN to ensure nothing ties you any longer to the account.

Never log into the account again, once you’ve abandon it. Let it sit and rot, it’ll fade into obscurity soon enough.

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===Use TOX, Be Secure===
The best way to explain Tox is as if it was a person. Tox, to be precise, is the athletically built, 10/10, drop-dead-gorgeous, blond hair, blue eyed cousin of Skype. Whereas Skype is a bloated, trend-following piece of crap that believes outward appearance, regardless of size, is all that’s need to appease their user.

Simply put: Tox doesn’t have the idiotic “aesthetics” and useless bloat. It’s just what it says on the box, thus far.

TOX is a P2P instant messaging and video calling protocol that offers end-to-end encryption.  All traffic is encrypted using the NaCl library, which provides authenticated encryption, perfect forward secrecy and no surprise visits from the FBI, yet.

Tox is quite simple and easy to use. The FAQs (https://tox.chat/faq.html) alone should have you withering in orgasmic pleasure by knowing just how secure you are when compared to Skype. Just look at the below!

• Removing the need to rely on central authorities to provide messenger services
• Concealing your identity (in the form of meta-data, e.g. your IP address) from people who are not your authorized friends
• Enforcing end-to-end encryption with perfect forward secrecy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forward_secrecy) as the default and only mode of operation for all messages
• Making your identity impossible to forge without the possession of your personal private key, which never leaves your computer

Seriously, we would like you to give the FAQ page a read. It goes into great details of why TOX is simply better than Skype. It’s near impossible for anyone to hijack or mess with your account. And, when using TOR and TOX, there’s near nothing anyone can do to trace you or your messages (as long as your rig’s clean and secure).

There’s no need for an e-mail address or complicated signup. You just need to choose and download the flavor of TOX you want for your operating system, create a new account and start adding your friends. From there, it’s simple OPSEC and not adding people at random. No history is saved, it’s ready out of the box and if you want, you can monkey around with it however you wish.

There’s nothing else you need. TOX does it all, so far. Unless, of course, you want to modify the settings in-program, like disabling that annoying typing feature that alerts people to when you’re typing or not.

They even have a series of How-Tos already available for you, so there’s also that.

The only drawback is the simple fact that if your rig fries, so does your profile and list of friends. So keep a list handy on a USB of your friends’ keys just in case.

__References:__
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tox_(protocol)
https://wiki.tox.chat/users/tox_over_tor_tot
https://tox.chat/download.html
https://wiki.tox.chat/users/howtos
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===Afterword===
This is probably one of our more lazily written guides, however since some people kept requesting it we decided to crank it out as quickly as possible. Like all work edits, content’s there, just not beautified or aesthetically pleasing, yet...

Enjoy and get off of Skype!