NetworkWorld actually had something rational to say about Skype for a change.

We assessed the state of the encryption and security of the Skype messages and streams, looking for exposed information that could be useful to hackers and susceptible to man-in-the-middle interception and diversion tactics. We evaluated the security of Skype Instant Messaging and file transfer, along with the internetworking of Skype 1.4 and 2.0 beta. We also tracked the effect of Skype operations, in terms of CPU and memory use, on laptops.

Our testing shows that neither Skype VoIP nor Skype Instant Messaging poses any readily exploitable security threat. We also conducted a dozen private interviews with hackers, enterprise network managers and leading network-security-equipment suppliers, none of which could cite one case of Skype being exploited for insidious security assaults.

Of course, next week some vulnerability might be exploited. But as we go to press, we believe that Skype poses more worries about what isn’t known than actual security concerns.

I’ve been saying this for a long time now.

Unless SBC and other carriers succeed in screwing it up to protect their revenue streams, that is.