Safe Instant Messaging

[Derek Trotter]

On 03/15/2013 10:08 PM, Michael Butash wrote:
> I won't use skype for the same reason.  I'd held off for x years 
> they've existed, and was going to make one finally as a client used it 
> for official and non im, but soon as microsoft bought them, I wrote 
> them off.
>
> Microsoft will not say no if the government tells them to (antitrust, 
> anyone?).  Blackberry did this in india actually making the news 
> forced to give up access to a foreign government, but no news here as 
> they already do.  They'll have your cell or wired isp give up raw 
> bitstreams of your traffic with or without a subpoena if they're that 
> interested.

I was reminded of this when  I read an article today in The Register 
about Canonical working with the Chinese government to produce a version 
of ubuntu customized for China.
>From 
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/22/china_makes_linux_os_with_canonical_help/

Because the software is open source it's unlikely that any backdoors 
could be added into the Ubuntu OS without the global Linux community 
taking notice.

This contrasts with Skype, which is available in a Chinese-flavour that 
spies on its users and logs information about them talking or making 
phone calls about sensitive subjects to the repressive state. The 
software is delivered as a partnership between local company TOM Online 
and Microsoft 
<http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-08/skypes-been-hijacked-in-china-and-microsoft-is-o-dot-k-dot-with-it>.



-- 
"I get my copy of the daily paper, look at the obituaries page, and if I’m not there, I carry on as usual."

Patrick Moore

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