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Note: Security researcher publishes reverse engineered source code in the wake of reports that Middle Eastern governments have Skype-eavesdropping tools.
A researcher named Efim Bushmanov claims to have reverse engineered the Skype protocol.
"My aim is to make Skype open source," he said in a blog post on Thursday, which included links to download executable files compatible with Skype versions 1.4, 3.8, and 4.1, plus IDA Pro disassembly database files, and source code.
Bushmanov said he decided to publicize his efforts in the wake of a story published this week in the , detailing how Middle Eastern countries' security agencies possessed tools that enabled them to eavesdrop on Skype communications. He's also hoping to recruit more people to help him finish the Skype reverse engineering, which he says isn't yet complete.
In response, Skype appears to be preparing for a fight. "This unauthorized use of our application for malicious activities like spamming/phishing infringes on Skype's intellectual property," said the company in an emailed statement. "We are taking all necessary steps to prevent/defeat nefarious...