Why Does Skype Read the BIOS? 327
pfp writes "Myria at pagetable.com, among others, noticed that Skype reads the machine's BIOS code on startup. This probably would've gone unnoticed if the operation didn't fail on 64-bit windows. From the post: '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... If they hadn't been ignorant of Win64's lack of NTVDM, nobody would've noticed this happening.'"
Theres... (Score:5, Funny)
we are not spying on you. we swear.
oh btw.. your wife is cheating on you.
Re:bad history? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:bad history? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:bad history? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hmmm.....what could you do with this? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:To prevent abuse? Usage statistics? (Score:5, Funny)
Ah! A primitive form of humor. (Score:3, Funny)
Because it was stapled to the punk rocker's face!!!1
Why does it read the BIOS? (Score:5, Funny)
Why does Skype read the BIOS? (Score:4, Funny)
To know what's written there.
Re:Here's a question for you.... (Score:5, Funny)
Within weeks you'll be writing advanced dial plans to do things like ring all the phones in a department or divert calls to your mobile if you haven't picked up in twelve rings, and you'll have DHCP and TFTP set up so each phone on the network can configure itself at switch-on. Then it'll all be working exactly how you want it to, with nothing for you to do except occasionally unplug and replug a misbehaving telephone.
About a year or eighteen months later, you will want to add a simple new feature. Unfortunately, by this time you will have forgotten altogether how you set everything up in the first place.
Nah, you are being silly (Score:5, Funny)
I will only eat in restaurants that have a double door to the kitchen and a rabid security guard preventing entry. Everyone knows that the best kitchens never allow you to see what goes on inside. That is un-hygienic.
Neither do I ever check under the hood of my car. My wife insisted on that, she assured me she made sure the brakes work just fine afer she adjusted them with the box-cutter. So that is alright and she waved me goodbye so nicely, together with the poolboy, as I drove away for a week trip across the mountains.
Checking the work of a software company? Pah, next thing you will be insisting that the bible is translated into your native tongue so you can read it for yourselve and not have to rely on your religious leader to tell you what is inside it. INFIDEL!
Re:What about Macs ? (Score:5, Funny)
There's really no need. Macs are secure by default even when running Windows.
In the unlikely event that a rogue piece of software does manage to send out some of your personal info, an electronic version of Steve Jobs will shoot down the wire after it and destroy the packets before they reach their destination. Probably using one of those frisbees out of Tron.
Re:Here's a question for you.... (Score:5, Funny)
O
-+-
| <- You
/ \
Goddammit ! It is FREE so what do you care ? (Score:0, Funny)
Goddammit ! It is FREE so what do you care ? Ebay has to make some money back somehow ! So it sells some of your personal details . So what ? It's FREE !
Re:bad history? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:About figures (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hmmm.....what could you do with this? (Score:5, Funny)
A++++++ A PLEASURE TO BE SPIED ON! WOULD HAVE PERSONAL INFORMATION STOLEN AGAIN!
Re:Done (Score:5, Funny)
Thank you for inquiring about Skype service. Please let me be you informed about our respect for the privacy of you. Skype wants only good things for the customers of Skype and only uses information for good things, not bad things.
Sincerely,
Apu Nahasapeemapetilon
Skype. Take a deep breath.
P.S.
Now that you have a deep breath taken, you should really see a doctor about that rash and ask your daughter about where she's *really* going this weekend (hint: it's not the Tijihuana Bible Camp). And whatever you do, don't ever come home early on a Wednesday unless you want a nasty surprise. That's the day the missus "gets the carpet cleaned."
Dammit! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Its for the software registration (Score:2, Funny)