SurfControl wipes out Skype dangers

24.03.2006
SurfControl has released an upgrade for its Enterprise Threat Shield (ETS) that protects corporate networks against the dangers of Skype.

As cost saving benefits of IP telephony lures more organizations to adopt Skype and other free IP communication systems, users are being targeted through vulnerabilities that abound the technology.

"The anecdotal feedback we're receiving is that Skype is very popular on corporate networks," said SurfControl's recently promoted senior vice president of sales for APAC, Charles Heunemann. "But as brilliant a piece of software Skype is, there are some IT departments that for a number of reasons are not going to want to have that application residing on their networks."

SurfControl CIO, Max Rayner, said in a statement, that although Skype as an application does not pose a threat to corporate networks, it can introduce unnecessary risks and vulnerabilities that could be exploited to cripple organizations.

The upgrade to Enterprise Threat Shield can be configured to stop users downloading Skype from its host site, control unauthorized Skype usage and detect and remove current versions within a corporate network.

ETS can also grant Skype access to authorized individuals, but Heunemann warned that the same threats will still be present.