Write a report on the Topic: Issues we can resolve surrounding the world of Skype in a paper with a minimum word limit of 32 pages (8,000 words)
Details:
Take some screenshots when using Linux for proof to show we tried to fix upon security concerns. Try to show that we are encoding messages if you can, go through the attached documents so you know what is expected. Clearly describe and provide evidence of how certain things were done. Speak about facts and overall how Skype has done over the years.
Literature Review:
Key Points:
• Intro
• History
• Barriers
• Acknowledgements + Conflict
• Security
• Video loss
• What is known and understood
• What the public think of Skype
• Conclusion
• Reference
Introduction:
This dissertation seeks to overcome the barriers in which skype has to be facing and battling every day with. Skype is already a very popular application as it is used by millions of people around the globe. It is very common and has excellent benefits as it is used in everyday life for people to stay in touch with their loved ones within a touch of a button.
As this literature review is about the issues that surrounds the world of Skype, mentioning the barriers throughout the literature review. I will be going through the success and the downs of the 12 years this application has been around for, also stating the facts of how Skype blew up onto the big stage.
So what is Skype? Skype is a software application which allows customers the free authority to make international calls overseas or local calls free of charge. It comes with excellent features which allows theusers to make voice calls, video conferencing and also allows one another to exchange photo images instantly. As well as that, opening up webcam which will enable Skype customers to view the person they are talking too. Making the users in the conversations feel close to one another.
In my opinion I believe the features Skype acquires are very crucial. Long distant relationships are intact when it comes to skype as you have voice calls, video call and a webcam to see each other. It is very effective as it can bring people closer to their loved ones, whether it is family, friends, or someone you’re in a relationship with.
Skype has allowed people to travel all over the world as they know they can keep in touch with their loved ones through the application. It is great because it allows people to do the things that is required for them without letting an opportunity slip. It maybe that a client is holding an important meeting overseas, or an interview is required, or maybe just a simple job opportunity is waiting upon them.
It has been suggested that the software has become successful as there are great positive reviews from Skype customers.
History:
It is known that Skype is a very popular application in today’shumanity as an article has said that there is a 380,000 rise in figure every day in skype. The same article has also alleged that there are 405 million skype users across the planet which is a huge success.
So the facts are that the Initial release of Skype was in the year of August 2003. It was founded by a Swedish man named Niklas Zennstrom and also Janus Friis from Denmark. It originally was created by Estonians, It is said that 44% of the overall employees are situated in Estonia. Skype over past few years has exploded onto the scene as it was gaining fame and year by year there was significant progress with all the updates that skype have brought to the everyday users.
On the 1st of September 2009, it was proclaimed that eBay was marketing 65% of Skype to Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for US $1.9 billion, valuing Skype at US$2.75 billion.
The software was recently bought by Microsoft in May 2011 for $8.5 billion. Microsoft's Skype division headquarters are in Luxembourg. It is said that in 2012, Skype accounted for anenormous 167 billion minutes of cross-border voice and video calling in a year—which itself was a stunning 44 percent growth over 2011. That increase in minutes was more than twice that was achieved by all international carriers in the world, combined.
What is known or understood?
This part of the topic will cover the areas in which Skype has a downfall in. It is known and opinions have been shared from users about many things which is key because this is what will need to be resolved in order for Skype to be top of its own game.
So the disadvantages will be mentioned here as it is something that most Skype lovers would want to see the back of.
We start off with the reviews of the legal issues as it is probably the number one main concern in today’s Skype industry. Many of us have problems with our security as we’re always cautious to know if there are other people watching our every move in what we type or knowing how we even look like. Of course there are people who have conversations in which one user may have their webcam on, whereas the other may not. This is a highly vulnerable position which may result in consequences. There are barriers in which the third party members, hackers or even a man in the middle may stick their unwanted nose in Skype user’s private conversation. This results in disasters as one user may not know for sure who is at the end of the other keyboard as a hacker puts themselves in the conversation making the other user behind the keyboard vulnerable. This is where we may not be sure who we are speaking to.
It is proclaimed that Microsoft have said that the US government can use Legal Capture, but they are going to need legal permission, which is going to be problematic to obtain. This will most likely cause a large amount of provocative issues because people are not comfortable with being spied on or watched over.
Moreover, Skype users who obtainiOS on iPhones or iPod touches and use Skype on them have b been put in a vulnerability position. It is said that a cross-site scripting allows hackers to be able to view chat messages.
This is known to be a very big problem as it will allow today’s hackers to be able to find out any material evidence that has been produced public on Skype chat by its users and use it to their advantage. This can lead to robbery of personal private information and other such things that a hacker should not have access to.
Here is a recent barrier which containa few malfunctions that are very common in the present. It is known as one of the most common complaints that Skype video loss, speakers, microphones and webcams seem to be on the wrong side as the essential components sometimes disconnect conversations between users on Skype which is very irritating for everyone involved in the conversation. It can sometimes take ages to reload and buffer a conversation when a video has been disconnected. Sometimes the components freeze, users get stuck on the menu and the window automatically shuts the active conversation. This is a common key barrier as it does affect a lot of Skype users across the world. In that sense those failures are popular for the wrong reasons.
What do the public think about Skype?
It is suggested that General video calling users are able to exploit new video conversation services like the one accessible by Google+ or Apple's FaceTime. In terms of that the article found and researched upon has said that Skype is faring with the average person. This was published 5 years ago in 2011.
In the article found there was a video link which asked the Public if they use Skype and how best it works for them. Evidence shows that it is still the way forward as there was a lot of positive feedback. Examples of keeping in contact with friends and families who are overseas or travelling were mentioned. You would think that Skype is still one step ahead from those positive comments from the US public.
A more interesting and appealing review written by a Skype user has shared their personal thoughts and feelings, of how it seems that the application is one that is not talked as much. In an example given, it was suggested that it was normal to talk about Facebook, Twitter and Google, but also suggested that you do not hear people on the bus talking about that amazing conversation they had on Skype. Personally for me, Skype is the underdog.
So the article that was written by the user mentioned the importance of Skype in their third year of University. The user moved abroad to Germany stating that it was their first long term period outside the UK. Now we can almost guarantee it is certain that people use Skype abroad.
So this person tried to get into contact with a friend but when they payed twenty euros or payphone, the conversation lasted approximately fifteen minutes! Now that was suggested to be very expensive and really not worth the money and hassle.
Well in the article it is not clear what made the user create a Skype account, but now that they have Skype, they no longer require experiencing situations like that. The facts were also that they cancontact friends and family whenever they want, for as long as they want for free. We as the public love to hear those words because it saves us time, energy, money and the freedom to do what we want at our own pace. The user specified that this is very reassuring.
Acknowledgments and Conflicts:
After watching the video on Skype how random strangers were giving their own views on what benefits they achieve using Skype in the US, it triggered me to get a range of feedback in the UK. It was essential for me to get an understanding of how the public would react on the downsides of Skype.
So on a normal day what I started on was planning to conquer a way in which I could resolve a few issues surrounding the world of Skype. I wanted to fix upon a few barriers in which was common in the Skype industry. As I have mentioned it above, that already Skype video losses were a real pain as it is very irritating for users to lose someone on the other line. Not forgetting the privacy issues in which government and third party hackers reading and watching the users every move. For me personally this was something I wanted to reach out to the public in a way to fix upon. I tried to do my own research out in the street and get the public’s thoughts and ideas on how they would feel if their video connections disconnected and if they was happy with the security surrounding Skype.
I asked the public if they use Skype, what they think about the irritation of video losses and how they would feel about security issues and if it effects them mentally.
I gained many negative feedback when I approached the public and questioned them on Skype video losses and privacy concerns. I did get the odd feedback from some of the public which resulted in them not using Skype at all, which I was ok with as it was a positive outcome in me understanding the reason behind that. So some of the public had trust issues, others did not require it at all as they was comfortable with their lifestyle and some just could not get access to Skype.
Research has suggested that that there are many more apps that offer more secure chat, despite evidence which is known that Microsoft has gone all out in buying Skype and killing MSN Messenger which allows IM Instant Messaging.
Rewinding back onto my plans and the conflict I mentioned that I gained when I approached the public about the video loss and security issues on what he thought had feelings about.
I was listening to the Skype users concerns of how irritating it can get and how frustrating it can be for them just get the video back up running.
A few members of the public wee kind enough to spare some of their valuable time and shared what they had to get off their chest, mentioning how video losses loading back make it significantly slower and that when it is back up and running, the user on webcam will move and speak but not making It look live as the video would be at least 3 seconds slow which suggested to be an estimation.
I was all ears as also it was known that Skype users who contact their loved ones overseas get a fuzzy image when a video loss loads back which is disappointing. In my view it is good as a loss. I understood about security issues that the public were no happy with Government Surveillance and National Security Agency sicking their unwanted selves into other peoples conversation because it made the uncomfortable and put them on the edge of their seats.
The outrage which was suggested from the public was that they’re just as bad as hackers such as third party unwanted members.
I understood that the public had a lot of correlation and mutual feelings with each other as there was a lot of conflict surrounding the issue with Skype which is clear that this was something users were not satisfied about.
Conclusion:
To conclude with,I am going ahead with my project as a lot of users have experienced complications. Security wise, skype is not safe to use so therefore I will be encrypting messages so that users have can have a secure conversation. This will allow users to be more comfortable rather than being on the edge of their seats when sending messages that they would want to stay private between the users in the conversation.
Not forgetting that I will also try and programme on Linux software the barriers in which video loss is another main concern. I will be working with a technician so I can get some help in my plans, where I would need some guidance; as well as that, be hoping to put my time and effort in order for me to get my work accomplished.Despite all this I have managed to find excellent reviews stated by skype users, some have said they have used it for many years and they was nearly happy. This is suggested that skype is still on the arise on being number one messenger.
Attachment:- Proposal.docx