This paper introduces SkyDe (Skype Hide), a new steganographic method that utilizes Skype encrypted packets with silence to provide the means for clandestine communication. It is possible to reuse packets that do not carry voice signals for steganographic purposes because Skype does not use any silence suppression mechanism. The method's proof-of-concept implementation and first experimental results are presented. They prove that the method is feasible and offers steganographic bandwidth as high as 2.8 kbps.

In this paper a new information hiding method for Skype videoconference calls -YouSkyde -is introduced. A Skype traffic analysis revealed that introducing intentional losses into the Skype video traffic stream to provide the means for clandestine communication is the most favourable solution. A YouSkyde proof-ofconcept implementation was carried out and its experimental evaluation is presented. The results obtained prove that the proposed method is feasible and offer a steganographic bandwidth as high as 0.93 kbps, while introducing negligible distortions into transmission quality and providing high undetectability.

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