Is Skype Safe?

Skype is one of the oldest and most well-known VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) programs on the web. It’s been out since 2003, meaning that it’s almost 20 years old! Long before Facetime, Zoom, and WhatsApp were around, people around the world were using Skype for instant messaging, file transfer, and video chats.

Despite new competition in the field, Skype remains one of the most highly regarded VoIP platforms due to its backing by Microsoft and its dedication to keeping user messages and calls secure and private. However, even the most secure platforms can still be exploited by the right hacker with the right motivation.

So, just how safe is Skype? Keep on reading to find out what Skype is doing to ensure their users’ safety and security as well as what you can do to ensure that your Skype account is never compromised.

How Safe Is Skype?

No matter what platform you’re talking about, there’s always going to be somebody who has something to say about the time they got hacked. Of course, the experience is never pleasant… the person on the receiving end of the hack often has to deal with the fact that their private messages have been read or archived by an unknown third party.

In some cases, users may have even had their accounts hacked and used against people who they know, such as their friends and family. As you can imagine, this can be awkward and problematic to deal with. Either way, most people don’t fancy the idea of their private messaging account getting hacked by anybody.

That being said, getting your skype account hacked isn’t as common as some people may make it out to be. The reality is that if you have a great, unique password, then the chances of you getting hacked are fairly slim. That’s all thanks to Microsoft’s industry-leading security standards.

Are Skype Calls Encrypted?

For one, all communication and files transferred through Skype are 100% protected by end-to-end encryption protocol. This means that even if you were using a public network and didn’t have a good VPN like Cyberghost, for example, your communication would still be quite secure. Sure, your other online activities may not be so secure, but at least your calls would be.

Another layer of protection that Microsoft offers with Skype is the ability to activate two-factor authentication. If you’re using Skype to handle sensitive and/or private calls, then you’ll really want to consider turning this on. Essentially, this means that nobody can log into your account without having your phone or access to your email, where an authentication code will be sent before you’re allowed to log into your account.

So, all in all, Skype is pretty safe.

How To Use A VPN To Make Your Skype Calls Safer:

As we mentioned, though, there’s always a slim chance that your communication could be compromised and your Skype account could be hacked. The most common cause of this is hackers viewing your internet data on unsecured networks and then using information they glean to make an educated guess at your Skype password.

This is why it’s so important to never use the same password for multiple sites. Just because Skype’s login authentication system is secure doesn’t mean that every other site or platform that you’re using the same password for are as secure. So, if a hacker sees you input “password123” into an unsecured site, then it doesn’t take a genius for them to think, “Hmm… what if I try to use that password to hack their Skype account?”

Again, here’s why it’s so important to use a good VPN service while you’re on public or unencrypted internet networks. They tunnel all of your internet data packets through an ultra-secure, encrypted server, making it practically impossible for any hacker to view the data you’re inputting into various sites and platforms.

So that being said, here’s how to use a VPN to make your Skype calls a little bit safer than they already are.

1. Download A High-Speed VPN: First, you’ll need to use a high-speed VPN server. This is what will be used to encrypt your online data and ensure that nobody (not even the government) can see what you’re sending through Skype. Here are a few of the top VPNs we recommend checking out!

2. Connect To A VPN Server Within Your Country: Once you’ve gotten your VPN all set up and working how you want it to, it’s time to connect to a server. To ensure a faster, higher-quality connection, we recommend connecting to a VPN server that’s located in the same country you are, preferably in a region that’s as close as possible to where you are. The closer the VPN server is to you, the faster the connection will be and the fewer interruptions you’ll experience.

Here’s an example of what VPN servers you may be able to choose from before logging into Skype:

3. Open Skype and Make A Call: Once you’re connected, your internet connection and data are 100% secure from third parties who might be looking to peep in on you. You’re now free to make calls, send messages, or transfer files through Skype with the added layer of security provided by your VPN!

Can I Remain Anonymous On Skype?

Your anonymity on Skype depends on a number of factors. Since Skype does require an email address and a name to create an account, the chances are that your existing account isn’t all that anonymous.

However, if you want, you can use a VPN, a fake email address, and a fake name to create a completely anonymous Skype account. Your fake email address and fake name won’t be able to be traced back to you, and your VPN will disguise the location of your IP address and device, effectively making you a ghost.

Final Skype Security Tips

Here are a few great Skype security tips to leave you with to ensure that your calls and communication are always as secure as possible.

Use A Hard-to-Guess Password

For one, you’ll always want to use a secure, hard-to-guess password. This ensures that no hacker will be able to guess your password, in the first place. We recommend using a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. Use words or terms that aren’t related to your life or existing passwords, or just use straight-up random combinations.

Use A VPN For Secure Calls

If you’re making a call or communicating with a Skype user and want to make sure that your conversation is extra-private and secure, make sure that you have a good VPN set up and connected to an active server near you. If you’re still unsure of which VPN is good for you, then check out this list of VPNs that offer free trials, so you can try it out before you buy it.

Change Your Password Periodically

Last (but certainly not least), you’ll want to make sure that you’re changing your password at least once every 3 or 4 months. This ensures that even if a hacker is trying to use a brute force program to hack your password over time, that you’ll always be one step ahead of the game with a freshly updated password.

Well, this concludes our brief guide on how to make your Skype calls ultra-secure! Remember, no matter how secure you think your internet connection is, it could always be safer. Using computer-generated, secure passwords, a VPN, and some good anti-virus software are the best defenses against hackers or any other prying eyes!