A serious security flaw in Microsoft’s Skype messenger allows attackers to easily spy on your IP address.
Using Skype? Then you should be particularly cautious now! A security researcher has managed to find out the IP address of a Skype user without them having to click on a link. Sounds alarming, doesn’t it? In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about this new security vulnerability.
Hackers have developed a clever method to find out your IP address without you actively interacting with them. All they have to do is send you a link via the Skype application for mobile phones. Once you open the message, they already have access to your IP address and can determine your general location. You don’t even have to click on the link to be affected.
The consequences of the Skype security flaw are far-reaching. Activists, journalists, and political dissenters are particularly vulnerable as their locations can be exposed. But they’re not the only ones at risk. This security flaw also poses risks for the average user. The IP address reveals the location, which can lead to physical or digital attacks.
Cooper Quintin, a security researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, emphasizes that almost everyone can be affected by the security flaw in Skype.
Independent security researcher Yossi discovered this vulnerability and informed Microsoft about it. Surprisingly, MS initially stated that the security flaw did not need to be immediately fixed. It was only after public pressure that the company announced plans to address the issue in one of the upcoming updates. This was reported by 404media in a recent article.
You’re probably wondering what you can do to protect yourself? Well, at the moment, there’s no definitive solution except to be cautious and avoid suspicious messages or links. Once Microsoft releases the update, make sure your Skype application is up to date.