UC Davis Information & Educational Technology

Bits & Bytes

Skype - Communication Friend or Foe?

Published in The Aggie on October 11, 2006

If you’ve got a great cell-phone plan, talk is certainly cheap. And if Skype survives its current conflict with universities, talk might even be cheaper.

Skype, a program owned by eBay, allows users to talk over the Internet at no cost if you have a microphone, speakers, and web connection. It is a sort of cross between a telephone service and an instant messenger. When you log on, a familiar "buddy list" shows you who is available to talk.

Popular IM clients such as AOL Instant Messenger have offered voice chatting for some time, but Skype expands on the concept, offering group chats and one-on-one video chats (webcams required). For a monthly fee, users can call landlines and mobile phones, access voicemail, and send text messages.

Also, Skype is perfect for creating podcasts with friends. Skype lets each person talk from their own computer, negating long-distance travel and logistics. You can record the audio with a separate recording program, and because up to 100 users can join the same chat room, your listeners can call in via Skype during your recording sessions and become part of the show.

Though its benefits are obvious, Skype has several serious problems, especially for universities.

Bob Ono, a campus security coordinator from Information and Educational Technology, has three main concerns about Skype.

First, the software's end user license agreement requires the user to grant Skype access to their network's bandwidth. However, since the UC Regents own the campus network, students are not authorized to grant external parties use of the campus network.

Second, the default installation asks that Skype be exempted by your computer firewall from all filtering restrictions. This rule is excessively broad and could subject your computer to increased security risks.

Finally, if your connection has enough unprotected bandwidth, Skype may use your computer, without your permission, as a "super node"—a server that relays data flow and connections for other users. This could strain the campus network and may lead to your computer being disconnected from the network for excessive bandwidth consumption.

Though UC Davis has no official policy against using Skype on the campus network, Ono recommends using the service at home, not on the campus network.

Other colleges have already banned or considered banning Skype because of similar issues.

The University of Oxford blocked Skype this year over fears of excessive Skype bandwidth consumption. San Jose State University temporarily suspended Skype, citing security concerns. Administrators also thought the service was unnecessary and wasted resources.

The sanctions met fierce opposition from students and faculty alike. Students liked the free service, and instructors praised the usefulness of virtual conferencing.

Due to the strong campus backlash and subsequent assurances from eBay about Skype's safety, San Jose State and Oxford reversed their bans.

Though there are potential risks and costs involved, Skype has much to offer. Take the necessary precautions (as you should with anything online) and give Skype a try at home.

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