Archive for the ‘Skype on Linux’ Category

How to install Skype on 64 bit Ubuntu (amd64) architecture

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

It seems Skype has troubles installing on 64 bit Ubuntu via Ubuntu’s Graphical Package Install manager which in Ubuntu 11.04 is called (Ubuntu Software Center)

During my attempt to take advantage of the nice GUI apt frontend, I encontered the error:
Wrong Architecture amd64

And Skype install failed, as you see in below’s picture (which you might be unable to read since it’s stating the error in Bulgarian 😉

error Ubuntu 11.04 Skype Install error in architecture amd64

The error is quite understandable, since the Skype deb package which tried to install was built for the i386 architecture.
Since the Software Center was not intelligent enough to work around the issue, I finally fixed it myself using the good old apt-get in terminal, like so:

root@ubuntu:~# apt-get install skype
...

apt did not even complain that the package had a different architecture for i386 and installed skype without any errors as well Skype worked immediately even though the arthictural difference.
This is probably because even though it’s a amd64 Ubuntu it has a kernel module loaded to support i386 binaries 😉
Now my sister can enjoy her skype on the shiny Ubuntu 😉

How to anonymize Skype on Linux / Use anonymous skype through tor

Monday, August 16th, 2010

I’ve recently worked on anonymizing as many of my applications as I could in that spirit.
I looked for a practical way to anonymize my Skype. Skype communication is so essential this days,
it’s very likely that a huge part of skype communication is being monitored by skype corp, it’s not impossiblethat some malicious installed trojan in skype would report about which IP address you’re using to connectto Skype.
Therefore proxifying skype could be a step further to at least prevent for following your skype traffic route.
Of course passing Skype traffic via tor is not a guarantee for anonimity since it’s probably very easy for Skypeowner company to keep record of Skype users, where do they people originate from, full log of people comminicationvia skype based on their user login.
As skype is a closed software and we have no access neither to the protocol specs neither to program source code, it’s almostimpossible to know if communication via skype is secure in sense of privacy.

It appeared that proxifying skype is a piece of cake and comes just to a proper instalating of Tor + polipo caching proxy and further installing proxychains

Proxychains is a rather interesting software, it’s able to carry any application TCP and DNS traffic through a proxy server (http and socks).
Therefore proxychains is able to run any program through proxy server and hence hide your real IP.

Interesting fact is that proxychains is the Unix equivalent for Window’s Freecap“Program based on universal DLL injection in alien process (works on all Windows from Win95 to Longhorn), which hooks Winsock API, redirecting connect requests to the SOCKS server.

So if you intend to proxify your Skype application on a Windows host you will have to use Wincap.

Back to the main topic of “what is the way to proxify” skype on Linux, so here is how I did it:

1. Install proxychains (available on a Debian host directly as a deb package)

debian:~# apt-get install proxychains

2. Install skype from source on Debian Testing/Unstable (Lenny / Squeeze / Sid). I personally use skype_static-2.0.0.72.tar.bz2

debian:~# cd /root

debian:/root# wget https://www.pc-freak.net/files/skype_static-2.0.0.72.tar.bz2
debian:/root# tar -jxvf skype_static-2.0.0.72.tar.bz2
debian:/root# mkdir /opt/Skype/
debian:/root# mv skype_static-2.0.0.72 /opt/Skype/

Also place a skype startup script to instruct skype that it will have to use the pulseaudio for a sound server.

Crete the /usr/local/bin/skype file.
It should contain the following

#!/bin/sh
export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulse;
/usr/bin/proxychains /usr/bin/linux32 /opt/Skype/skype_static-2.0.0.72/skype
#/usr/bin/torify /usr/bin/linux32 /opt/Skype/skype_static-2.0.0.72/skype

Now simply startup skype by either typing /usr/local/bin/skype from a terminal or either create a shortcut towards skypeor edit the existing shortcut added in either GNOME or KDE menus and set it to use /usr/local/bin/skype as a skype starter.

Even better proxychains can be used to proxify via a tsocks proxy any other application on your BSD or Linux.

I’ve also noticed that tor deb is also equipped with a program called torifytorify – wrapper for tsocks and tor

I’m not quite sure if torify is also able to torify skype along with the other applications for which it can be used to torify traffic, so if any of the readers of this article can give some feedback if they have tried that would be really nice 🙂

New version of skype 2.1.0.81 for Linux (Not working on Debian Unstable)

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

There seems to be a new version of Skype for Linux.
This would be a joy for every linux enthusiast … if only it had worked.
I’ve tested skype_static-2.0.0.72.tar.bz2 on Debian unstable and it prooved to crash
the same way the previous skype release was crashing. What ugly proprietary
software skype is! I truely hope some software as a good substitute for skype
will come along to free us from this evil proprietary software!

Debian Squeeze / Sid ( Unstable ), Skype 2.0.0.72 and pulseaudio fix microphone and sound issues

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

After I’ve recently upgraded to the latest current Debian Unstable release I stumbled upon many problems, many of which are discussed and fixes provided on the prevoius posts. One of the many terrible things I had to fix MANUALLY (I’m starting to hate that word), are the issues with sound and microphone in Skype. I’m using Skype 2.0.0.72, because skype_static-2.1.0.47 gives me worries, crashing every now and then. To fix my problems with sound and microphone while Googling I found this nice Aryn’s Blog post .
Here is what worked for me to fix the issues.
Execute1. apt-get install libsdl1.2debian libsdl1.2debian-alsa libsdl1.2debian-pulseaudio2. apt-get install libsdl1.2debian-pulseaudio3. apt-get install paprefs pavucontrol padevchooserNext 4. open gnome-alsamixer and make sure your “Mic” is not muted (in some cases it might be some capture field muted ain’t sure?)5. Start pavucontrol and make sure in the Input Devices the mute button is not selected6. Go to the gnome panel System -> Preferences -> Sound and make sure in the Input menu Microphone is not muted7. start aumix and Make sure your Microphone is “Mic” and “Igain” is not set to low volume8. Execute: alsactl store to make sure that alsa settings are not lost on system restart9. In your home directory edit ~/.asoundrcAnd add— SNIP —pcm.card0 { type hw card 0}ctl.card0 { type hw card 0} —–10. Edit /etc/libao.conf and make sure it contains default_driver=pulse11. Edit ~/.profile and add: export SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulse to it12. Open Skype go to “Sound Devices” and set sound in, sound out and ringing options to:HDA Intel (hw:intel,0)
If you’re lucky with God’s help and grace your skype’s sound output and input via mic should be working just fine :)END—–

Problems with Skype 2.0.0.72 on Debian Unstable Again and their solutions

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Arrghh. After I’ve upgraded a couple of packages on my Debian unstable I’ve came across the
same old problem. Skype’s sound input, output and ringing refused to work again.
It took me like 4 hours to resolve the problem!!!!! ARGHHHH.
It’s the right time to say that skype is a complete diarrhia m*ther fucking bullshit!
I’ve tried evething. Like experimting with volume settings in:
1. /usr/bin/gnome-volume-control.gstreamer2. /usr/bin/gnome-volume-control3. /usr/bin/gnome-alsamixer4. /usr/bin/aumixthe list goes on !! You name it. And everytime it was nothing.I’ve realised some of the updates mangled my /etc/pulse/daemon.conf .
Thus I had to add again default-fragments = 8default-fragment-size-msec = 5 into it.
I’ve tried everything my ~/.asoundrc pcm.pulse { type pulse}ctl.pulse { type pulse}pcm.!default { type pulse}ctl.!default { type pulse}pcm.card0 { type hw card 0}ctl.card0 { type hw card 0}pcm.dsp0 { type plug slave.pcm "hw:0,0" }
Well that’s not all the latest update of the lib32asound2-plugins Debian package is missing the pulseaudio required libraries
. Huh ?!
Anyways let’s get back to business.
To make skype work I had to create the following script:
#!/bin/shexport SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulse;/usr/bin/linux32 /opt/Skype/skype_static-2.0.0.72/skype
in /usr/local/bin/skype
Next I had to execute:
amixer set 'Input Source' 'Internal Mic' and echo "amixer set 'Input Source' 'Internal Mic'" >> /etc/rc.local
And yes you need to have downloaded static version of skype 2.0.0.72 and put it in /opt/Skype/ directory.
Well if you’re lucky. Hooray Skype might work again ? If God fix it for you 🙂
END—–

Linux Skype Static 2.0.0.72 Download

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Since Skype 2.1 is not working with Debian amd64 Unstable. And I’ve seen people looking for the 2.0.0.72 static binary, I decidedto put it here on my blog for download. I just hope this might be helpful to anybody out there.