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UPDATED: Ipoque Changes Software To Block New Skype |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Wednesday, 17 May 2006 |
The latest iteration of the Skype client, Beta 2.5, released on May 3 included alterations to make it more difficult to target and eliminate Skype traffic on corporate networks says a company that provides a way to block Skype.
Peer-to-peer filtering company, Ipoque, says it was able to detect and block the Skype traffic within three days of the new release.
According to a statement issued by the company, with the May 3 release Skype tried to improve the stealth capabilities of the IP telephony traffic by making changes to the protocol, requiring changes to its traffic management software.
ipoque’s PRX traffic managers are able to detect and block Skype and other unwanted data traffic in corporate networks. The PRX traffic managers support application-and user-aware management of peer-to-peer-based file sharing, instant messaging and Voice over IP.
They operate as transparent bridges for a seamless integration into existing network infrastructures. Detected traffic can be accounted, prioritised, throttled or blocked. The integrated Web interface allows a simple administration even with no prior knowledge about application traffic management.
Apart from the potential security risks involved in Skype usage on corporatenetworks, some network administrators are concerned that Skype can substantially increase the traffic volume and potentially infringe national legislation on traffic surveillance and interception, explains Ipoque.
“As Skype keeps releasing new software versions with changes to the underlying protocol, companies seeking to control Skype usage in their networks need a vendor who is able to provide updates for their traffic management solution in a timely manner.
Our fast update service and the reliable support form the basis for a long-term customer relationship qualifying ipoque as a credible partner,” says Klaus Mochalski, CEO of ipoque.
UPDATE:
According to a story on Techworld.com, Skype's designers have radically overhauled the program’s stealth capabilities making it more difficult to detect.
Ipoque CEO, Klaus Mochalski, said the application no longer conformed to a small number of predictable patterns with call setup now completely randomised to make established pattern-matching techniques useless.
Ipoque had to reverse engineer the peer to peer applications by using the client to make calls thousands of times to discern “a tell-tale pattern of packet lengths, timings, and small-scale packet consistencies that betrayed its presence”.
Mochalski fears that ultimately advances in the Skype program could one day make it impossible to detect. However, to do this Skype would have to manage and distribute encryption keys, delaying the likelihood of such an advanced encryption system being deployed.
www.ipoque.com
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