Does Skype Present A Risk Of Malware?
 

(Looking for current information since the subject of malware is always changing.)

Does using Skype on a Windows computer present extra or greater risks of malware than other software?

Is there a lesser risk if Skype is used on a smart phone?

Highly unlikely. Running Skype is probably no more risk than visiting Amazon or MSN with IE. Maybe less. Keep your system updated, run a good antivirus and basic firewall, use good sense, and you'll be fine.

Here's an excellent overview of where malware comes from.

No more so that any other p2p software that permit file transfers. There used to be some viruses out there that would send infected files to people in the infected persons address book. Haven't seen them lately though. You might know the person "sending" you the file. Maybe they got infected the same way, or they opened an infected email attachment.

-David

Unlikely, unless you click the spam "Windows Update" messages that occasionally pop up and advertise fake anti virus or other malware.

I use the portable version of Skype from portableapps.com, to help keep installs to a minimum.

Yeah, you get plenty of ads for malware in it but I don't see how the client itself could infect you.