Skype

Skype application software is a free communications application providing video, voice and instant messaging functionality between inter-networked computers. Computers running Skype form a tariff free peer-to-peer communications network. The Skype network incorporates interfaces with the national and international public switched telephone network. However, tariffs are associated with this extended functionality. Skype is not being offered as an alternative to the College telephone system. It is being offered as an additional communications service to meet the needs of network users who may not normally have access to College telephones, for example

• students in residential rooms wishing to communicate with friends and family
• in support of Teaching and Research - students involved in collaborative academic work

While Skype is a secure encrypted end to end communications protocol, it does give rise to increased network security risk levels on large networks. However a pragmatic decision to support Skype on a self service basis has been taken on the basis that the benefits outweighed the risks and because a suitable alternative is not available at this time. These factors may change with time. Therefore the use of Skype will be monitored by IS Services on an ongoing basis, to ensure there is no negative impact on the delivery of other services.

Detailed instructions on setting up the service using Skype are outlined below. IS Services Helpdesk staff do not provide additional assistance in setting up or trouble-shooting the use of this software.

The following are required to avail of this service:

• a computer, either PC or Apple Mac
• a connection to the College network
• a copy of Skype software. The program is free to download. Users of Skype can make free phone calls worldwide to anyone else using Skype and it also provides inexpensive calls to landlines.
• speakers and a microphone for your computer
• you will need to configure Skype to use the College proxy server

Users of this service should be aware that there are important security issues associated with using internet telephony. Please consult the relevant information on our web pages.

How to Install Skype

• Download a copy of the latest version of Skype from http://www.skype.com/download/
• Follow the default installation instructions and create a new Skype user account if necessary.

Configuring Skype for use on the College network

We recommend, for ease of reference, that you print these instructions before proceeding.

Skype on a Windows PC

In order for your Skype client to access the internet you will need to configure the application to use a College proxy server as described below.

• Configure your browser to use the college proxy as instructed at http://isservices.tcd.ie/internet/webproxy.php
• Open the Skype application using Start\Programs\skype
• Select options from the tools menu as below:

• Select Connection and configure as shown below

• Enter ‘443’ for 'Use port ? for incoming connections'
• Untick the box beside ‘Use port 80 and 443 as alternatives for incoming connections’
• Select HTTPS from the dropdown list
• Select tcdproxy.tcd.ie and port 8080 as the host and port
• Tick ‘ enable proxy authentication’
• Enter your external web access user name and password. Note: this is the same username and password that you use to log onto the College network so if at any point you change your network login password you will need to enter the new password here.
• If connection cannot be achieved at first please close and relaunch Skype. You may have to do this multiple times before achieving connection.
• On the Skype sign-in screen it is preferable to uncheck the two options: 'Sign me in when Skype starts' and 'Start Skype when the computer starts'. This prevents any possible problems that may arise after changing your College network login password.

Skype on the Apple Mac

To enable Skype on a Mac to work through the College proxy it is necessary to install an additional piece of software called Authoxy. Authoxy works under OS X 10.2.x, 10.3.x, and 10.4 to 10.4.2.

1. Download Authoxy from http://www.hrsoftworks.net/Products.php
2. When you run the installer, there is an option to install an item which automatically turns on Authoxy each time you log in.
3. When the installer finishes, launch ‘System Preferences’.
4. The first item you need to reconfigure is the Network Control Panel. Open it, select Ethernet for wired and/or Airport for wireless and select the ‘Proxies’ tab. You may need to configure both the wired and wireless 'Proxies'. Click the Advanced tab if present and choose the Proxies tab.
5. Tick both the Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS) items. In both cases set 127.0.0.1, port 8081 as the Web Proxy Server.
6. Open the Authoxy Control Panel. You will need to configure it using your College username and external web access password, and using the appropriate TCD Proxy Server - tcdproxy.tcd.ie and port 8080. Enter port 8081 for local host. Note: this is the same username and password that you use to log onto the College network so if at any point you change your network login password you will need to enter the new password here.
7. On the Authoxy Control Panel there is an option to tick 'Prompt me for these credentials in startAuthoxy' this should be unticked for Skype to work
8. Click ‘Start Authoxy’. You may wish to configure the utility that automatically starts Authoxy on login at this stage.
9. Any application that requires internet access via proxy settings should work fine now, including Endnote, Skype, etc.
10. On the Skype sign-in screen it is preferable to uncheck the two options: 'Sign me in when Skype starts' and 'Start Skype when the computer starts'. This prevents any possible problems that may arise after changing your College network login password.

Skype and Security

Use of Skype is permitted only through the College proxy as described above. Running Skype directly through the College firewall is not permitted.

Users should be aware that Skype is a peer-to-peer application. Peer-to-peer applications are often associated with security risks such as the spread of viruses and worms and spyware.

Users should read the licence agreement carefully before installing Skype. See http://www.skype.com/company/legal/eula/.

Users should pay particular attention to article 4 of the licence agreement as quoted below:

Article 4 Permission to Utilize

4.1 Permission to utilize Your computer. In order to receive the benefits provided by the Skype Software, You hereby grant permission for the Skype Software to utilize the processor and bandwidth of Your computer for the limited purpose of facilitating the communication between Skype Software users.

4.2 Protection of Your computer (resources). You understand that the Skype Software will use its commercially reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and integrity of Your computer resources and Your communication, however, You acknowledge and agree that Skype cannot give any warranties in this respect.

This means that you are agreeing to allow other Skype users to use the resources (processor and bandwidth) of your computer and the College network. Your system will therefore participate in providing Voice over IP (VoIP - internet phone calls) services to others which may affect the performance of your computer or result in excessive bandwidth usage by your computer.

Tips on how to safely use Skype :

• Only launch the application when you need to use it - for example, when you are expecting an incoming call or making an outgoing call. On the Skype sign-in screen it is preferable to uncheck the two options: 'Sign me in when Skype starts' and 'Start Skype when the computer starts'. This prevents any possible problems that may arise after changing your College network login password.

• Keep your calls to a reasonable length.
• When the call is finished, turn the application OFF. Closing the Skype application window is not enough. On the Windows OS, the background application must be turned off as well.
• Look for an icon in your system tray (down by the clock) that looks something like this:
  
• To turn it off, right click on this icon and a menu is displayed:
  
• Choose Quit.
• Having Skype active only when in use will prevent it from becoming a supernode, and routing other phone calls and using excessive network resources.
• Always ensure that your operating system and anti-virus software is up-to-date.