In 2012, Egyptian revolutionaries stormed the State Security Investigations (SSI) headquarters in Cairo, uncovering documents detailing a mysterious software called FinFisher. Developed by British-German company Gamma International, FinFisher was a high-level hacking system capable of accessing email inboxes, tracking communications, and gaining control over devices.
The software’s existence highlighted Skype’s vulnerabilities when it came to encryption. At the time, Skype promised unparalleled privacy with end-to-end encryption, but hackers could still intercept calls by directly accessing users’ computers. This lack of security sparked anger among law enforcement agencies, leading them to seek alternative methods to spy on Skype users.
Despite its limitations, Skype’s original developers laid the groundwork for modern chat apps’ security features. End-to-end encryption is now a standard feature in popular apps like Apple’s iMessage and WhatsApp. However, earlier discoveries revealed that even Microsoft, which owns Skype, had modified the app to allow authorities to collect calls and messages.
Microsoft recently announced it will shut down Skype on May 5, marking the end of an era for the once-popular internet phone-calling app. Despite its eventual decline, Skype’s legacy lives on in the technology securing global chat communications, making the world a safer and freer place.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/03/as-skype-shuts-down-its-legacy-is-end-to-end-encryption-for-the-masses