Comments on: Skype’s Chat Worm http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/ Collective thoughts and musings on the state of VoIP security today. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:42:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: scm http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-99807 scm Mon, 24 Sep 2007 03:29:18 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-99807 Hi Everyone, Does anyone believe that voip products will becoming more mainstream in the future ? Hi Everyone,

Does anyone believe that voip products will becoming more mainstream in the future ?

]]> By: Martyn Davies http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-97481 Martyn Davies Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:26:46 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-97481 >> .... how many worms/virsus and voip attacks ..... Yes, of course there will be more, as we now have to suffer with email spam and worms/viruses on our computers. Some will be "script kiddy" attacks mounted by people that just want to be a nuisance and crash computers and services. Some will be attempts to steal or extort money in one way or another; this is inevitable, since wherever there is money, you will find criminals trying to get their hands on it. But will it be the downfall of VoIP? No, VoIP is just a technology that can be implemented well or badly like any technology. VoIP will grow, because this is the way that telcos are moving: yesterday's digital phone backbones are being changed over to VoIP because it allows multiple networks to be consolidated into one data backbone. For example British Telecom have a project called 21CN which will convert all the UK phones to VoIP by 2011. The users will still have the same phone handsets in their houses, but the actual calls will be VoIP over the backbone, saving BT around $2 billion a year in running costs. >> …. how many worms/virsus and voip attacks …..
Yes, of course there will be more, as we now have to suffer with email spam and worms/viruses on our computers. Some will be “script kiddy” attacks mounted by people that just want to be a nuisance and crash computers and services. Some will be attempts to steal or extort money in one way or another; this is inevitable, since wherever there is money, you will find criminals trying to get their hands on it.

But will it be the downfall of VoIP? No, VoIP is just a technology that can be implemented well or badly like any technology. VoIP will grow, because this is the way that telcos are moving: yesterday’s digital phone backbones are being changed over to VoIP because it allows multiple networks to be consolidated into one data backbone. For example British Telecom have a project called 21CN which will convert all the UK phones to VoIP by 2011. The users will still have the same phone handsets in their houses, but the actual calls will be VoIP over the backbone, saving BT around $2 billion a year in running costs.

]]> By: Shawn Merdinger http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-96766 Shawn Merdinger Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:18:16 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-96766 In response to: "Thanks for your reply. Shawn, I know that voip has to some extent gone mainstream but do you believe this service in 5-10-15 years down the road will be larger than it is today?" Dude, no question VoIP will grow -- haven't you seen the "analyst" reports and estimates from the likes of Gartner, In-Stat, etc., etc., ad nauseam...you can always use "The Google" on this one too. VoIP will grow because it's all about (saving) the Benjamins...and we'll likely see more consolidation as well as degradation in quality, service uptime, etc. -- think along the lines of Wal-Mart quality for voice communications, but without the lead paint. Also, if you don't mind stating who you are I'd appreciate it since we have the same initials and I wish to avoid confusion. Thanks, --scm Shawn Merdinger In response to:

“Thanks for your reply. Shawn, I know that voip has to some extent gone mainstream but do you believe this service in 5-10-15 years down the road will be larger than it is today?”

Dude, no question VoIP will grow — haven’t you seen the “analyst” reports and estimates from the likes of Gartner, In-Stat, etc., etc., ad nauseam…you can always use “The Google” on this one too.

VoIP will grow because it’s all about (saving) the Benjamins…and we’ll likely see more consolidation as well as degradation in quality, service uptime, etc. — think along the lines of Wal-Mart quality for voice communications, but without the lead paint.

Also, if you don’t mind stating who you are I’d appreciate it since we have the same initials and I wish to avoid confusion.

Thanks,
–scm
Shawn Merdinger

]]> By: Jim Courtney http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-96193 Jim Courtney Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:51:46 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-96193 In fact, it is not a VoIP worm, it is an IM worm. Anyone who owns one of the security suites such as Norton Internet Security got an upgrade for this worm. Check out the links at my post at http://skypejournal.com/blog/2007/09/virus_warning_be_wary.html. Symantec and other security software publishers have been dealing with these types of IM worms for quite a while. In fact, the good news is that it took so long for one of them to show up in the Skype IM; they apparently have been showing up on MSN and AIM for some time. And the security firms work closely with the IM firms to arrest their spread. In fact, it is not a VoIP worm, it is an IM worm. Anyone who owns one of the security suites such as Norton Internet Security got an upgrade for this worm. Check out the links at my post at http://skypejournal.com/blog/2007/09/virus_warning_be_wary.html. Symantec and other security software publishers have been dealing with these types of IM worms for quite a while. In fact, the good news is that it took so long for one of them to show up in the Skype IM; they apparently have been showing up on MSN and AIM for some time.

And the security firms work closely with the IM firms to arrest their spread.

]]> By: Scm http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95768 Scm Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:06:06 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95768 Hi Shawn, Thanks for your reply. Shawn, I know that voip has to some extent gone mainstream but do you believe this service in 5-10-15 years down the road will be larger than it is today ? Thanks Hi Shawn,

Thanks for your reply. Shawn, I know that voip has to some extent gone mainstream but do you believe this service in 5-10-15 years down the road will be larger than it is today ?

Thanks

]]> By: Shawn Merdinger http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95727 Shawn Merdinger Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:30:17 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95727 With all the attention on the recent Skype attacks, outages (er, upgrades and finger-pointing) I suggest it’s worthwhile looking at these events from the emergency perspective, such as how Skype was used in post-Katrina operations. See: http://www.nps.navy.mil/DisasterRelief/docs/NPS-Katrina_AAR_LL.pdf HASTILY FORMED NETWORKS FOR COMPLEX HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS AFTER ACTION REPORT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL’S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA 1 - 30 September 2005 Authors Brian Steckler (NPS Faculty) Bryan L. Bradford, Maj, USAF (NPS Student) Steve Urrea, Capt, USMC (NPS Student) —————————————————– To see what I’m talking about here, download the PDF and search for “Skype” in the document. A few examples: “Skype had been well received and continued to be provided to local users…” “Laptop and backup laptop loaded with all the standard applications (…, Skype,…)” “Headset for Skype personal digital assistant (PDA)” “802.11/802.16/SATCOM/VoIP/Skype/Groove integration” And plenty more…. Kind regards, –scm Shawn Merdinger With all the attention on the recent Skype attacks, outages (er, upgrades and finger-pointing) I suggest it’s worthwhile looking at these events from the emergency perspective, such as how Skype was used in post-Katrina operations.

See:
http://www.nps.navy.mil/DisasterRelief/docs/NPS-Katrina_AAR_LL.pdf

HASTILY FORMED NETWORKS FOR COMPLEX HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS AFTER ACTION REPORT AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL’S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA 1 - 30 September 2005

Authors
Brian Steckler (NPS Faculty)
Bryan L. Bradford, Maj, USAF (NPS Student)
Steve Urrea, Capt, USMC (NPS Student)

—————————————————–

To see what I’m talking about here, download the PDF and search for “Skype” in the document.

A few examples:

“Skype had been well received and continued to be provided to local users…”

“Laptop and backup laptop loaded with all the standard applications (…, Skype,…)”

“Headset for Skype personal digital assistant (PDA)”

“802.11/802.16/SATCOM/VoIP/Skype/Groove integration”

And plenty more….

Kind regards,
–scm
Shawn Merdinger

]]> By: Scm http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95663 Scm Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:03:54 +0000 http://voipsa.org/blog/2007/09/10/skypes-chat-worm/#comment-95663 Hi Martyn, In the future, how many worms/virsus and voip attacks do you think will be happening in the future ? Do you think it will cause a down fall in voip ? Thanks Hi Martyn,

In the future, how many worms/virsus and voip attacks do you think will be happening in the future ? Do you think it will cause a down fall in voip ?

Thanks

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