Skype reads your BIOS and Motherboard Serial Number

Posts: 8187

Quote:

Users of Skype that run 64-bit versions of Windows like me probably have noticed that when starting Skype, the following dialog box appears:

The program or feature “\??\C:\Documents and Settings\Myria\Local Settings\Temp\12\1.com” cannot start or run due to incompatibility with 64-bit versions of Windows. Please contact the software vendor to ask if a 64-bit Windows compatible version is available.

Well, that’s weird. Skype’s trying to run a .com file, which won’t work on Win64 because there’s no NTVDM. Let’s try opening it in Hex Workshop. Access denied? OK, I’ll terminate Skype to read it. Still can’t?! This thing is really starting to annoy me. I’ll use WinDbg to terminate winlogon.exe to force a kernel panic. I reboot and NOW I can read the damn file.

An unreadable executable file coming from Skype sounds interesting, so I look at it. It’s 46 bytes long. For copyright reasons I can’t post the file or a complete disassembly. However, I can describe the program in terms of 16-bit DOS C:

int main(void)
{
fwrite((const void far*) 0xF0000000, 1, 0xFFFF, stdout);
fwrite((const void far*) 0xF000FFFF, 1, 1, stdout);
return 0;
}

It’s dumping your system BIOS, which usually includes your motherboard’s serial number, and pipes it to the Skype application. I have no idea what they’re using it for, or whether they send anything to their servers, but I bet whatever they’re doing is no good given their track record.

In 32-bit Windows NT, including Vista, the kernel permits NTVDM to make a read-only mapping of the BIOS at address 000F0000. This allows DOS programs running under NTVDM to make use of the BIOS. That’s how this 46-byte program is capable of sending the BIOS to the Skype application, and also explains why they use this mechanism to begin with.

If they hadn’t been ignorant of Win64’s lack of NTVDM, nobody would’ve noticed this happening.

http://www.pagetable.com/?p=27

Now; Daryl Bradford Smith has promoted myspace ( Zionist Owned ), The French Connection Toolbar (Zionist Spyware), and Skype (more spyware). It's interesting to note here that Daryl did not tell people what to do on myspace, the toolbar was senseless without RSS (which wasn't implemented), and there are better, older, more established methods of VOIP than Skype.

Posts: 355

Could you name some ALT's plse, since I'm addicted to the clarity on skype, and recording...

Another thing I wanna ask... how is it possible for you to log onto the net at any point in your life using w/e it is that you want and not be traced... for any reason whatsoever, I think somehow the net was created to give us the opportunity to face up to their challenges.
Almost like seeing what we could come up with since they have the idea that their plan is inevitable...
I liked alot of Terrence Mckenna's stuff but this whole idea of becoming one in an alternatively mainstream net, and his crazy fantasies of virtual worlds seem to play into the agenda on a highly intellectual slice of disinfo...

Then again I can't say much on a man that has experienced what he has... u never know...

btw... hows the Mini-Os running, and is it worth it?

Posts: 8187

There are many alternatives to skype.. it depends on what you can talk your friends into installing and using, and what you're using it for.

Posts: 640

they cant trace u over wireless networks... well they can, but by the time they do ur long gone...

as for alternatives... have u ever tryed ventrillo/teamspeak? these are programs gamers use to comunicate online so they dont have to type, u can use for one on one or with a group of friends... beats the hell outta 3way calling Wink

Posts: 8187

From:
http://www.ishitech.co.il/0107ar2.htm

Quote:

Skype adds lie detector to VoIP service

Skype's lie detector analyses the audio stream and checks for stress levels Skype has announced that it will be adding an optional lie detector to its popular Internet telephony service.

The 'KishKish' software attempts to determine whether the caller is telling a whopper by analyzing the audio stream and checking for stress levels.

Lying evokes the 'fight or flight' response in humans, which makes muscles tense up, altering the pitch and tone of the voice.

"This is a really neat application, and the kind of thing we want to see more of," said Paul Amery, director of Skype's developer programme.

"Lie Detector is the latest in a variety of products in our premium Extras for Skype which greatly enhance the Skype communication experience."

The software was developed by Israeli software house BATM, and is already in use by the US military.

The software is available from Skype as a premium add on. No price or release date have been announced.

Posts: 499

	Quote:
	Skype reads your BIOS and Motherboard Serial Number

Skype is tracking the hardware UIDs (unique identifiers) to allow better identification of the source. Previously, most of the tracing has been done by IP, but IPs can be spoofed and endlessly proxied, etc. Much easier to trace the source if the hardware UID is encapsulated in the transmission (packet headers), which allows you to cross-reference sales, and then hopefully the location of the purchaser.

	Quote:
	as for alternatives... have u ever tryed ventrillo/teamspeak? these are programs gamers use to comunicate online so they dont have to type, u can use for one on one or with a group of friends... beats the hell outta 3way calling

I agree about using those as alternatives. Both Vent and TS (teamspeak) have free servers and clients that can be [relatively] easily installed. [Vent's free server has an 8-connection limit, but it should be fine for small conferences.] The hardest part is getting the other callers to buy microphones or headsets.

	Quote:
	Skype adds lie detector to VoIP service

If wonder if that is a client-side process that we can tap into? It would be cool if we could route politicians voices through our boxes. Smile

Posts: 273

I F---ing hate Skype, is uses so much processing power now, I remember way back in 2002 MSN was so fast, it had good resolution and depending on the connection the frame rate was good as well, now there al slow and jerky and pixelly!

I do not trust Ebay or Skype or Google, as soon as they get big they get EVil!

Posts: 8187

I've tried other ad affiliates. Some put trojans on our users computers and never paid (Adbrite and Clicksor) -basically because we stopped using them before we got the minimum payment requirement. Whether aspects of Google are bad or good, they're paying much better than any other affiliate (even if we kept the trojan serving ads) we've tried and are supporting the propagation of information found on this site.

Sure, the site would bring in more money if we took donations instead, but I don't feel it's necessary.