The move was announced on Thursday by Open Whisper Systems, the software organization behind the open source signal protocol, which was implemented by Microsoft to offer the feature.
Private Conversations
The option, called Private Conversations, is currently being tested by Skype Insiders and has some temporary limitations.
Firstly, it can be used to protect audio calls, text messages and files (images, audio, videos) but not video calls.
Second, private conversations are limited to individual conversations (no group conversations at this time) and users can only join a private conversation from one device at a time.
#8220; You can switch the conversation to any of your devices, but the messages you send and receive will be linked to the device you are currently using & #8221; explained support engineer Ellen Kilbourne.
The feature will not be enabled by default, but will be easy to use and work just like a regular chat: a private conversation can be closed, deleted, started again.
A private conversation starts after one user sends an invitation and the other accepts. It is marked by a lock icon next to the contact's name, but Private Conversations preview messages will not be displayed in Chats or notifications.
Better late than never
Skype is one of the first in online calling, but has been surpassed in popularity by the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (both use Signal Protocol for end-to-end encryption).
However, Skype is still one of the most popular communications applications in the world and is actively being activated by about 300 million users.
The fact that Microsoft chose Signal Protocol to provide end-to-end encryption to users is unexpected, but welcome: The protocol is open source and can be audited for security breaches by anyone.
A recent security audit effort by a group of computer and cryptography teachers and doctoral students found its core crypto devoid of major flaws. But, they noted that popular applications that use Signal tend to change important details as they implement or integrate the protocol and therefore deserve security reviews in their own right.
Original Source: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2018/01/12/skype-end-to-end-encryption/
