[color=red][/color]While running Skype I ran a security check using Shields Up, and found that 2 ports were open, port 80 & port 433,...I then repeated the excecise using PCflank & Found I was running in stealth mode..The ? is' is there a security loophole whilst using Skype...Thanks in anticipation for any replies.

[quote=dipidy.doodah][color=red][/color]

Skype uses three ports by default. You can turn off its ability to use port 80 and port 443 in the options.

As for security loophole, there are no known exploits that could compromise the security of your computer at this time. That's not to say that they will never exist, but as of now there are not any publicly known.

On a side note, it is believed that having all 3 ports open increases your chances of becoming a supernode. It seems to work fine with just one port, so I see no reason not to turn off port 80 and 443 in the options.

To further that topic, the reason ports 80 and 443 are open at all is become Skype presumes (falsely in my opinion) that port 80 and port 443 will be reachable from the greater Internet. If this is true, and you turn them off, you increase (actually cement) your chances of having to use a relay to have a conversation. This may or may not be okay with you. Currently, the Skype encryption seems to be good enough to make this a non-issue.

[quote=granger][quote=dipidy.doodah][color=red][/color]

Skype uses three ports by default. You can turn off its ability to use port 80 and port 443 in the options.

As for security loophole, there are no known exploits that could compromise the security of your computer at this time. That's not to say that they will never exist, but as of now there are not any publicly known.

On a side note, it is believed that having all 3 ports open increases your chances of becoming a supernode. It seems to work fine with just one port, so I see no reason not to turn off port 80 and 443 in the options.

To further that topic, the reason ports 80 and 443 are open at all is become Skype presumes (falsely in my opinion) that port 80 and port 443 will be reachable from the greater Internet. If this is true, and you turn them off, you increase (actually cement) your chances of having to use a relay to have a conversation. This may or may not be okay with you. Currently, the Skype encryption seems to be good enough to make this a non-issue.[/quote]

Thanks for the quick response..I have disabled port 80 & 443 & it seems to have resolved the issue, Skype is working well...