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Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

skype-open-source.blogspot.com

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Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#81

Post by lesterbuck »

jcr wrote: post #51
lesterbuck wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course that was not the way the "IBM PC Compatible" market arose. IBM published a rather complete set of documentation of the system, including all interface signals and the BIOS source code. I still have several of those documents on my shelf. It is completely different from the complete lack of Skype technical documents.

IBM released documentation after the PC had been cloned through "clean room" reverse engineering. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_compatible

Then the cloners moved at warp speed. According to Wikipedia, the PC AT shipped in 1984. For nostalgia, I kept my copy of IBM Personal Computer Hardware Reference Library Technical Reference, Pub #1502494.

"This manual describes the various units of the IBM Personal Computer AT and how they interact. It also has information about the basic input/output system (BIOS) and about programming support.

The information in this publication is for reference, and is intended for hardware and program designers, programmers, engineers, and anyone else who needs to understand the design and operation of the IBM Personal Computer AT."

It includes the source listing of the PC AT BIOS, as well as complete interface pinouts, etc.

The colophon for this manual reads

First Edition (March 1984)

So what is your time line for IBM only publishing this manual after the PC AT was cloned?

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#82

Post by drdaeman »

tttp wrote: post #28

Two major issues: http://skype-open-source.blogspot.com/2011/06/skype-under-rc... | | Copyright (c) 2004-2009 by VEST Corporation. | | All rights reserved. Strictly Confidential! The project is using existing code, and "All rights reserved" is not an approved OSI license I believe ;) And things like compression algorithm are patented, and that's very likely skype is using some of it. Reminds me of a project by Intel…

Software patents are mostly US-only problem. As Efim's probably a Russian, this is not an issue.

And Skype can't really easily alter the protocol because of all sort of skype-compatible devices (IP phones and so on).

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#83

Post by tptacek »

jcr wrote: post #70
VMG wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you assume the tools are pirated?

I think you actually want two answers, the question you asked and "why report it?" The IDA Pro disassembler and the Hex-Rays decompiler are not only very expensive tools, but they are very difficult to purchase. Due to constant problems with piracy, these days they will only sell their products to three areas; (1) governments/law enforcement, (2) very well established corporations (typically well known security resea…

What? This isn't true at all. Anyone can buy IDA.

This copy of IDA was probably pirated for the same reason Photoshop is usually pirated: because it's expensive. But you don't know it was pirated.

Also: by editing your comments to account for the responses, you make the thread incoherent. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that, or, at least, if you must do it, to do so in corrections at the end of your comment. It's fine to be wrong. I'm wrong all the time.

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#84

Post by [deleted] »

tptacek wrote: post #83
jcr wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you actually want two answers, the question you asked and "why report it?" The IDA Pro disassembler and the Hex-Rays decompiler are not only very expensive tools, but they are very difficult to purchase. Due to constant problems with piracy, these days they will only sell their products to three areas; (1) governments/law enforcement, (2) very well established corporations (typically well known security resea…

What? This isn't true at all. Anyone can buy IDA. This copy of IDA was probably pirated for the same reason Photoshop is usually pirated: because it's expensive. But you don't know it was pirated. Also: by editing your comments to account for the responses, you make the thread incoherent. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that, or, at least, if you must do it, to do so in corrections at the end of your comment. It…

[deleted]

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#85

Post by [deleted] »

jcr wrote: post #70
VMG wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you assume the tools are pirated?

I think you actually want two answers, the question you asked and "why report it?" The IDA Pro disassembler and the Hex-Rays decompiler are not only very expensive tools, but they are very difficult to purchase. Due to constant problems with piracy, these days they will only sell their products to three areas; (1) governments/law enforcement, (2) very well established corporations (typically well known security resea…

[deleted]

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#86

Post by Xuzz »

[deleted] wrote: post #84
tptacek wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? This isn't true at all. Anyone can buy IDA. This copy of IDA was probably pirated for the same reason Photoshop is usually pirated: because it's expensive. But you don't know it was pirated. Also: by editing your comments to account for the responses, you make the thread incoherent. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that, or, at least, if you must do it, to do so in corrections at the end of your comment. It…

[deleted]

That is incorrect. I purchased IDA Pro as an individual this year, and I am a simply a student interested in reverse engineering. (I believe what you are saying may be true for the "advanced" version, but from what I can tell anyone can purchase IDA Pro Standard.)

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#88

Post by [deleted] »

[deleted] wrote: post #84
tptacek wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What? This isn't true at all. Anyone can buy IDA. This copy of IDA was probably pirated for the same reason Photoshop is usually pirated: because it's expensive. But you don't know it was pirated. Also: by editing your comments to account for the responses, you make the thread incoherent. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't do that, or, at least, if you must do it, to do so in corrections at the end of your comment. It…

[deleted]

[deleted]

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#89

Post by tptacek »

Xuzz wrote: post #86
[deleted] wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

That is incorrect. I purchased IDA Pro as an individual this year, and I am a simply a student interested in reverse engineering. (I believe what you are saying may be true for the "advanced" version, but from what I can tell anyone can purchase IDA Pro Standard.)

It's not true of "Advanced" either (all "Advanced" does is give you x86-64 and a bunch of exotic architectures; "Advanced" is a price segregation scheme, not a community safeguard).

Re: Skype protocol reverse engineered, source available

#90

Post by hollerith »

jcr wrote: post #46
EliRivers wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HN is an internationally read site. Things that are illegal in some countries are not illegal in others. As responsible citizens, it is up to the individual to not engage in illegal activities in the region said individual is in.

I think you misread my statement. I should have been more clear, but if you read it again, you'll see I agree with you. It is interesting and belongs here.

I agree that your comment should have been more clear.
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