New Skype Detection & Blocking Method

Lynanda CS, an independent European IT solutions provider, announced a new methodology to detect and block Skype’s traffic. As the increasing use of Skype in corporate environments is raising concerns among security administrators, such technology could see notable commercial application.PARIS, Aug 26, 2006 –The use of Skype application is constantly increasing in corporate environments and is having a dramatic impact on carriers’ revenue streams. But perhaps more importantly, the very nature of Skype traffic is raising security concerns as Skype’s protocol is proprietary and acts as a complete black box. Security administrators are currently unable to monitor and secure it efficiently.Skype uses a peer-to-peer technology and several obfuscation techniques, making it challenging for network operators to identify associated traffic. Skype encrypts data transmitted over the Internet between peers and is particularly gifted when it comes to circumvent security limitations. Entering via uncommon channels like https (Web) port, Skype is usually very successful at passing corporate firewalls. Furthermore, Skype designers are making the software even more furtive at every new version.The network research group at Lynanda has come with a solution to identify Skype’s traffic on-the-fly. As expected the solution is not based on common firewall practices, but on statistical data-mining techniques. In fact the method used to filter Skype is a two-steps process.

WebWire® | Lynanda Finds a Way to Block Skype