FaceTime Security Product Scans Skype's Encrypted IM

Security vendor FaceTime Communications has released the only security product on the market allowed to look at encrypted instant messages sent between Skype users.

The upgrade to the company's Greynet Enterprise Manager (GEM) detects harmful URLs (uniform resource locators) within instant messages.

Instant messages are one way a hacker can lure victims to a harmful Web site. Through a compromised instant-messaging account, a hacker may have access to a person's contact list. Those contacts may think they are being sent a link by a friend, but fall victim to a social engineering trick that puts their PCs at risk.

FaceTime is the only company that has an agreement to develop security software with Skype, which is owned by eBay.

One of the most popular VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) applications, Skype is known for its simplicity, convenience and function. But it has posed a concern to companies due to its use of encryption for voice conversations and instant messages.

Skype constantly updates the protocol to ensure privacy for its users, but Skype's stealth is worrisome for security-minded IT managers tasked with ensuring sensitive company data doesn't leave their networks.

A year ago FaceTime released its first product for Skype, FaceTime Internet Security Edition for Skype. The product controls who is allowed to use Skype, as well as finer-grained controls, such as whether a user can use Skype's chat function.

The latest upgrade is part of GEM, which is available as an add-on to FaceTime's Unified Security Gateway, an appliance for instant messaging and VOIP security, and IM Auditor, an instant messaging management appliance.

Pricing was not immediately available.