Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the 
top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on 
'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you 
want blah blah blah

What is this?  Anybody know?

It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an 
auction.

I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened since 
I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.

Would appreciate any explanations!

Cheers.

"Jake"  wrote:
 

>Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the 
>top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on 
>'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you 
>want blah blah blah

Every listing, or just the ones where the buyer has ticked Skype as a
communication option? I've never seen it, and as far as I know I don't
have Skype installed. Unless it comes with Turbolister or something.

>
>What is this?  Anybody know?

Skype is an internet telephone system that ebay bought a few years
ago. Whatever they were planning to do with it presumably fell
through, but you can add it to your listings if you want to. I don't
think I've ever seen anyone who has though.

>
>It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an 
>auction.

Define listings and auctions, to me they are both the same things.

>
>I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened since 
>I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>
>Would appreciate any explanations!
>
>Cheers. 

It's more likely to be just some shovelware that PB have added because
someone pays them to put it on there. Just remove all the ones you
don't want, your computer will be faster without them anyway.

"Jake"  wrote in message 
news:DXduk.50132$E41.2561@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the 
> top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on 
> 'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you 
> want blah blah blah
>
> What is this?  Anybody know?
>
> It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an 
> auction.
>
> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened 
> since I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>
> Would appreciate any explanations!
>
> Cheers.

Googling
"packard bell" skype
revels Packard Bell are preinstalling the Skype client on some of their 
machines.
It appears to be difficult to uninstall but the core appears to be  a file 
called
(wait for it) skype.exe
I certainly wouldn't want Skype on any PC of mine.

-- 
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Jake wrote:
> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at
> the top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following
> add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'

> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell,

There you have it.
You answered your own question.
It's pre-installed shit-ware from your computers manufacturer.
New computers nowadays are so bogged down with trial-ware and shitty useless 
applications that the best thing you can do with them is to format the hard 
drive and install a fresh version of windows before you attempt to do 
anything else.

"Spacker"  wrote in message 
news:tp5jb4h3unv0n3bndsps751l92dbka1toh@4ax.com...
> "Jake"  wrote:
>
>
>>Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the
>>top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on
>>'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you
>>want blah blah blah
>
> Every listing, or just the ones where the buyer has ticked Skype as a
> communication option? I've never seen it, and as far as I know I don't
> have Skype installed. Unless it comes with Turbolister or something.
>
>>
>>What is this?  Anybody know?
>
> Skype is an internet telephone system that ebay bought a few years
> ago. Whatever they were planning to do with it presumably fell
> through, but you can add it to your listings if you want to. I don't
> think I've ever seen anyone who has though.
>
>>
>>It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an
>>auction.
>
> Define listings and auctions, to me they are both the same things.
>
>>
>>I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened 
>>since
>>I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>>
>>Would appreciate any explanations!
>>
>>Cheers.
>
> It's more likely to be just some shovelware that PB have added because
> someone pays them to put it on there. Just remove all the ones you
> don't want, your computer will be faster without them anyway.

Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click on 
it?

And to answer your question, the Skype thing is on all of 'em.
And to "define" the difference between listings and auctions... Listings is 
the page with all the different items for sale that you look through when 
yer looking for whatever it is you want, and the auction page is what you 
get when you click on one of the items on the Listings page. The Auction 
page is the one with the item description, the photo's and all the P&P 
details and so on. Hope that makes sense.

"Graham."  wrote in message 
news:g9cfvg$p1$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
>
> "Jake"  wrote in message 
> news:DXduk.50132$E41.2561@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the 
>> top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on 
>> 'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you 
>> want blah blah blah
>>
>> What is this?  Anybody know?
>>
>> It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an 
>> auction.
>>
>> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened 
>> since I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>>
>> Would appreciate any explanations!
>>
>> Cheers.
>
> Googling
> "packard bell" skype
> revels Packard Bell are preinstalling the Skype client on some of their 
> machines.
> It appears to be difficult to uninstall but the core appears to be  a file 
> called
> (wait for it) skype.exe
> I certainly wouldn't want Skype on any PC of mine.

Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click on 
it?

"(used to be) Fat Sam"  wrote in message 
news:g9drc0$ofi$1@aioe.org...
> Jake wrote:
>> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at
>> the top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following
>> add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'
>
>> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell,
>
> There you have it.
> You answered your own question.
> It's pre-installed shit-ware from your computers manufacturer.
> New computers nowadays are so bogged down with trial-ware and shitty 
> useless applications that the best thing you can do with them is to format 
> the hard drive and install a fresh version of windows before you attempt 
> to do anything else.

Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click on 
it?

Jake wrote:
> "(used to be) Fat Sam"  wrote in
> message news:g9drc0$ofi$1@aioe.org...
>> Jake wrote:
>>> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up
>>> at the top of the page saying "this website wants to run the
>>> following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'
>>
>>> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell,
>>
>> There you have it.
>> You answered your own question.
>> It's pre-installed shit-ware from your computers manufacturer.
>> New computers nowadays are so bogged down with trial-ware and shitty
>> useless applications that the best thing you can do with them is to
>> format the hard drive and install a fresh version of windows before
>> you attempt to do anything else.
>
> Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to
> click on it?

Probably ask you for loads of registration details, while at the same time 
providing you with very little information about what it is you're signing 
up for.
If it was pre-installed by the manufacturer, chances are it's not going to 
harm you or your computer. But only you can decide whether it's worth having 
or not.
Look in the documentation that came with the computer. What does that say 
about it?
Nowadays, the manuals tend to come in PDF format, saved in a folder 
somewhere on the hard drive. Failing that, look up the help files for the 
application that's trying to run.

"Jake"  wrote:
 

>
>"Spacker"  wrote in message 
>news:tp5jb4h3unv0n3bndsps751l92dbka1toh@4ax.com...
>> "Jake"  wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at the
>>>top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on
>>>'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you
>>>want blah blah blah
>>
>> Every listing, or just the ones where the buyer has ticked Skype as a
>> communication option? I've never seen it, and as far as I know I don't
>> have Skype installed. Unless it comes with Turbolister or something.
>>
>>>
>>>What is this?  Anybody know?
>>
>> Skype is an internet telephone system that ebay bought a few years
>> ago. Whatever they were planning to do with it presumably fell
>> through, but you can add it to your listings if you want to. I don't
>> think I've ever seen anyone who has though.
>>
>>>
>>>It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an
>>>auction.
>>
>> Define listings and auctions, to me they are both the same things.
>>
>>>
>>>I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened 
>>>since
>>>I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>>>
>>>Would appreciate any explanations!
>>>
>>>Cheers.
>>
>> It's more likely to be just some shovelware that PB have added because
>> someone pays them to put it on there. Just remove all the ones you
>> don't want, your computer will be faster without them anyway.
>
>Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click on 
>it?

Install Skype?

>
>And to answer your question, the Skype thing is on all of 'em.
>And to "define" the difference between listings and auctions... Listings is 
>the page with all the different items for sale that you look through when 
>yer looking for whatever it is you want, and the auction page is what you 
>get when you click on one of the items on the Listings page. The Auction 
>page is the one with the item description, the photo's and all the P&P 
>details and so on. Hope that makes sense.

"Spacker"  wrote in message 
news:ugfnb4lp7n99kfcf0f81ijjgspa661ge1p@4ax.com...
> "Jake"  wrote:
>
>
>>
>>"Spacker"  wrote in message
>>news:tp5jb4h3unv0n3bndsps751l92dbka1toh@4ax.com...
>>> "Jake"  wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at 
>>>>the
>>>>top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on
>>>>'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you
>>>>want blah blah blah
>>>
>>> Every listing, or just the ones where the buyer has ticked Skype as a
>>> communication option? I've never seen it, and as far as I know I don't
>>> have Skype installed. Unless it comes with Turbolister or something.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>What is this?  Anybody know?
>>>
>>> Skype is an internet telephone system that ebay bought a few years
>>> ago. Whatever they were planning to do with it presumably fell
>>> through, but you can add it to your listings if you want to. I don't
>>> think I've ever seen anyone who has though.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an
>>>>auction.
>>>
>>> Define listings and auctions, to me they are both the same things.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened
>>>>since
>>>>I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>>>>
>>>>Would appreciate any explanations!
>>>>
>>>>Cheers.
>>>
>>> It's more likely to be just some shovelware that PB have added because
>>> someone pays them to put it on there. Just remove all the ones you
>>> don't want, your computer will be faster without them anyway.
>>
>>Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click 
>>on
>>it?
>
> Install Skype?

LOL...twat ;-))

I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with internet 
telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with ebay and why it 
wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype' 
from 'Skype Technologies SA'".

I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone using 
this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that or 
something else entirely? Does anybody know?

Jake wrote:

> 
> I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with 
> internet telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with 
> ebay and why it wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 
> 'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'".
> 
> I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone 
> using this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that 
> or something else entirely? Does anybody know?
> 

ebay owns skype.

-- 
Kimbo xx

Books, by Kimbo!
Used and collectible books at sensible prices.
Buy direct at www.booksbykimbo.com
Find me on Ebid http://uk.ebid.net/stores/Books-by-Kimbo

"Jake"  wrote:
 

>
>"Spacker"  wrote in message 
>news:ugfnb4lp7n99kfcf0f81ijjgspa661ge1p@4ax.com...
>> "Jake"  wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>>"Spacker"  wrote in message
>>>news:tp5jb4h3unv0n3bndsps751l92dbka1toh@4ax.com...
>>>> "Jake"  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up at 
>>>>>the
>>>>>top of the page saying "this website wants to run the following add-on
>>>>>'Packard Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'. please click if you
>>>>>want blah blah blah
>>>>
>>>> Every listing, or just the ones where the buyer has ticked Skype as a
>>>> communication option? I've never seen it, and as far as I know I don't
>>>> have Skype installed. Unless it comes with Turbolister or something.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>What is this?  Anybody know?
>>>>
>>>> Skype is an internet telephone system that ebay bought a few years
>>>> ago. Whatever they were planning to do with it presumably fell
>>>> through, but you can add it to your listings if you want to. I don't
>>>> think I've ever seen anyone who has though.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>It's not there when I'm looking at the listings, just when I click on an
>>>>>auction.
>>>>
>>>> Define listings and auctions, to me they are both the same things.
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell, and this has only happened
>>>>>since
>>>>>I got this new PC. Never got this on my old PC's.
>>>>>
>>>>>Would appreciate any explanations!
>>>>>
>>>>>Cheers.
>>>>
>>>> It's more likely to be just some shovelware that PB have added because
>>>> someone pays them to put it on there. Just remove all the ones you
>>>> don't want, your computer will be faster without them anyway.
>>>
>>>Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click 
>>>on
>>>it?
>>
>> Install Skype?
>
>LOL...twat ;-))
>
>I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with internet 
>telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with ebay and why it 
>wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype' 
>from 'Skype Technologies SA'".

Ebay bought Skype some time last year. When ebay buys something it
always promotes it through its main site.

>
>I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone using 
>this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that or 
>something else entirely? Does anybody know?

Is it Skype that works like a P2P system, where your internet
connection is used to transmit people's telephone calls, even if you
don't make any yourself?

"(used to be) Fat Sam"  wrote in message 
news:g9g839$tmu$1@aioe.org...
> Jake wrote:
>> "(used to be) Fat Sam"  wrote in
>> message news:g9drc0$ofi$1@aioe.org...
>>> Jake wrote:
>>>> Everytime I look at an auction on ebay, I get a warning bar pop up
>>>> at the top of the page saying "this website wants to run the
>>>> following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'
>>>
>>>> I've just bought a new PC, a Packard Bell,
>>>
>>> There you have it.
>>> You answered your own question.
>>> It's pre-installed shit-ware from your computers manufacturer.
>>> New computers nowadays are so bogged down with trial-ware and shitty
>>> useless applications that the best thing you can do with them is to
>>> format the hard drive and install a fresh version of windows before
>>> you attempt to do anything else.
>>
>> Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to
>> click on it?
>
> Probably ask you for loads of registration details, while at the same time 
> providing you with very little information about what it is you're signing 
> up for.
> If it was pre-installed by the manufacturer, chances are it's not going to 
> harm you or your computer. But only you can decide whether it's worth 
> having or not.
> Look in the documentation that came with the computer. What does that say 
> about it?
> Nowadays, the manuals tend to come in PDF format, saved in a folder 
> somewhere on the hard drive. Failing that, look up the help files for the 
> application that's trying to run.

Thanks Sam.  I've tried looking for answers like that but there is nothing 
to say what Skype and ebay have to do with each other.  There's plenty of 
stuff about Skype itself but nothing about the link between it and ebay. 
The computer even came with an ebay icon on the desktop that would get you 
registered and up and running on ebay. Again, there was nothing in there 
about Skype and the relationship between the two.

I just want to know what it is and what it has to do with ebay and what it 
will do for me as a buying and selling ebayer.  I'd like to know so I can 
decide whether to use it nor not**

**BTW, that bit's aimed at anybody in upce who might know, and not you 
specifically, as such. Tho' of course if you do know then please, spill the 
beans!  ;)

"Kim Andrews"  wrote in message 
news:6i25tlFojk9kU1@mid.individual.net...
> Jake wrote:
>
>>
>> I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with 
>> internet telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with ebay 
>> and why it wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 'Packard 
>> Bell - Skype' from 'Skype Technologies SA'".
>>
>> I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone 
>> using this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that 
>> or something else entirely? Does anybody know?
>>
>
> ebay owns skype.

Hi Kim.

So then it could be just an advertisement to get me to use Skype and it has 
nothing to do with ebay itself.  What I don't get, if that is the case, is 
why the pop-up bar asking me to run this Skype add-on only pops up when I 
click on an auction, and not anywhere else...like say when i'm in my ebay, 
or when I'm looking at the listings in any of the categories?

Also, the term 'add-on' implies it has something specific to do with ebay. 
If that's the case then it's not just an advertisement to get Skype, on it's 
own, for whatever it is Skype does.

"Spacker"  wrote in message 
news:m8onb453tt2csmepimtljjn5k8hlslv0jd@4ax.com...
> "Jake"  wrote:

>>>>Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click
>>>>on
>>>>it?
>>>
>>> Install Skype?
>>
>>LOL...twat ;-))
>>
>>I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with 
>>internet
>>telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with ebay and why 
>>it
>>wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'
>>from 'Skype Technologies SA'".
>
> Ebay bought Skype some time last year. When ebay buys something it
> always promotes it through its main site.

See my reply to Kim on that.

>>I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone 
>>using
>>this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that or
>>something else entirely? Does anybody know?
>
> Is it Skype that works like a P2P system, where your internet
> connection is used to transmit people's telephone calls, even if you
> don't make any yourself?

I'm not sure. When I was looking for info I skipped through all the techy 
stuff. I just looked for the Skype/ebay connection.

I mean, ok, ebay owns Skype. But other than that, what is it that this 
'add-on' does? Until I know that, I can't decide whether or not to use it or 
dump it.  I don't want to dump it if it will do something useful, and I 
don't want to allow it in case it's a waste of time and has nothing to do 
with ebay and my use of it.

Jake wrote:

>>
>> ebay owns skype.
> 
> Hi Kim.
> 
> So then it could be just an advertisement to get me to use Skype and it 
> has nothing to do with ebay itself.  What I don't get, if that is the 
> case, is why the pop-up bar asking me to run this Skype add-on only pops 
> up when I click on an auction, and not anywhere else...like say when i'm 
> in my ebay, or when I'm looking at the listings in any of the categories?
> 
> Also, the term 'add-on' implies it has something specific to do with 
> ebay. If that's the case then it's not just an advertisement to get 
> Skype, on it's own, for whatever it is Skype does.

I'm not sure why this is so difficult, but... ebay owns skype, so they 
want you to use it as much as possible to justify the fact that they 
*hugely* over paid for it. ebay auctions have a built-in "you can use 
skype to talk to your customers" function, which I simply ignore as I 
refuse to let skype anywhere near my computer. You have bought a new 
machine that has something also built in because skype and the 
manufacturer have done some sort of bundled deal. Your machine knows 
it's got skype. ebay owns skype. ebay auctions can use skype to 
communicate. These factors all come together to perform one neat and 
annoying function when you view an auction.

What you choose to do about that is up to you, but if it was me I'd be 
disabling anything I could lay my hands on... so to speak. ;o)



-- 
Kimbo xx

Books, by Kimbo!
Used and collectible books at sensible prices.
Buy direct at www.booksbykimbo.com
Find me on Ebid http://uk.ebid.net/stores/Books-by-Kimbo

In message , at 13:39:30 on 
Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:

>Ebay bought Skype some time last year.

It was three years ago next week.

>When ebay buys something it always promotes it through its main site.

They haven't tried very hard with Skype.

>>I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone using
>>this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that or
>>something else entirely? Does anybody know?
>
>Is it Skype that works like a P2P system, where your internet
>connection is used to transmit people's telephone calls, even if you
>don't make any yourself?

Only in very strange circumstances, like you are the person in a part of 
the world with poor Internet connectivity and your PC can "see" the two 
participants better than they can "see" one-another directly. It's most 
unlikely to happen on any UK Internet connection (unless you work for an 
organisation with a serious firewall and your computer is one of the few 
that's allowed to see Skype traffic through that firewall).
-- 
Roland Perry

"Jake"  wrote:
 

>
>"Spacker"  wrote in message 
>news:m8onb453tt2csmepimtljjn5k8hlslv0jd@4ax.com...
>> "Jake"  wrote:
>
>>>>>Thanks for that.   Have you any idea what it would do if I were to click
>>>>>on
>>>>>it?
>>>>
>>>> Install Skype?
>>>
>>>LOL...twat ;-))
>>>
>>>I know it'll install Skype!  I know Skype has something to do with 
>>>internet
>>>telephones.  What I don't know is what Skype has to do with ebay and why 
>>>it
>>>wants me to 'allow' it to run "the following add-on 'Packard Bell - Skype'
>>>from 'Skype Technologies SA'".
>>
>> Ebay bought Skype some time last year. When ebay buys something it
>> always promotes it through its main site.
>
>See my reply to Kim on that.
>
>>>I mean, do ebay want me to be able to call any sellers over the phone 
>>>using
>>>this Skype internet phone thing? Is that it?  Something like that or
>>>something else entirely? Does anybody know?
>>
>> Is it Skype that works like a P2P system, where your internet
>> connection is used to transmit people's telephone calls, even if you
>> don't make any yourself?
>
>I'm not sure. When I was looking for info I skipped through all the techy 
>stuff. I just looked for the Skype/ebay connection.
>
>I mean, ok, ebay owns Skype. But other than that, what is it that this 
>'add-on' does? Until I know that, I can't decide whether or not to use it or 
>dump it.  I don't want to dump it if it will do something useful, and I 
>don't want to allow it in case it's a waste of time and has nothing to do 
>with ebay and my use of it. 

It lets you make telephone calls over the internet. If you call
another Skype user those calls will be free. If you call a normal
phone you will pay, but it might be cheaper than what you would pay
whoever you would usually pay for phone calls.

If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
you want to do. If it isn't, it won't.

"Jake"  wrote:
 

>So then it could be just an advertisement to get me to use Skype and it has 
>nothing to do with ebay itself.  What I don't get, if that is the case, is 
>why the pop-up bar asking me to run this Skype add-on only pops up when I 
>click on an auction, and not anywhere else...like say when i'm in my ebay, 
>or when I'm looking at the listings in any of the categories?

The auctions have code on them telling your browser that it might need
the Skype plugin. That code won't be there in the list of auctions.

This is it:

src="http://include.ebaystatic.com/js/e579/uk/features/skype/skype_check_e5791uk.js">

It seems to be present whether the seller ticks Skype as an option or
not.

In message <pqRuk.50983$E41.27844@text.news.virginmedia.com>, at 
12:41:57 on Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Jake  remarked:
>I just want to know what it is and what it has to do with ebay and what 
>it will do for me as a buying and selling ebayer.

"Not very much" in either case. It was one of those mergers that didn't 
in fact have the expected synergies. Although both products work OK in 
their separate ways.
-- 
Roland Perry

In message , at 14:29:19 on 
Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
>increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
>you want to do.

You are making things up again.
-- 
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry"  wrote in message 
news:r1orYFtQD$uIFANl@perry.co.uk...
> In message , at 14:29:19 on 
> Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
>>increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
>>you want to do.
>
> You are making things up again.
> -- 
> Roland Perry

I thought I'd heard or read something about that, your PC can be used as a 
relay. Maybe it was on one of the Security Now broadcasts that Steve Gibson 
does (grc.com).

John

In message <4TSuk.67249$le1.9949@newsfe11.ams2>, at 15:20:39 on Mon, 1 
Sep 2008, Crunchie  remarked:
>>>If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
>>>increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
>>>you want to do.
>>
>> You are making things up again.
>
>I thought I'd heard or read something about that, your PC can be used 
>as a relay. Maybe it was on one of the Security Now broadcasts that 
>Steve Gibson does (grc.com).

It can (and I described the typical circumstances earlier).

To suggest it inevitably *will* cause *massive increase* in Internet 
traffic is tosh.
-- 
Roland Perry

Roland Perry  wrote:
 

>In message , at 14:29:19 on 
>Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
>>increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
>>you want to do.
>
>You are making things up again.

No, you are just showing your ignorance again.

In message , at 16:06:56 on 
Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>>If it is the one that works with P2P you will also get a massive
>>>increase in your internet traffic which will slow down other things
>>>you want to do.
>>
>>You are making things up again.
>
>No, you are just showing your ignorance again.

Gosh, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour?

Skype doesn't use the P2P feature in the vast majority of connections, 
as I have described in detail.

So you are wrong yet again. Keep it up, after all it's what we expect.
-- 
Roland Perry

Roland Perry  wrote:
 

>In message , at 13:39:30 on 
>Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>
>>Ebay bought Skype some time last year.
>
>It was three years ago next week.

You will have to forgive me for that error. Unlike you I didn't rush
out to install it as soon as ebay started saying it was the safest way
to make telephone calls and that all other methods of communication
lead to identity theft.

Roland Perry wrote:
> In message <pqRuk.50983$E41.27844@text.news.virginmedia.com>, at
> 12:41:57 on Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Jake  remarked:
>> I just want to know what it is and what it has to do with ebay and
>> what it will do for me as a buying and selling ebayer.
>
> "Not very much" in either case. It was one of those mergers that
> didn't in fact have the expected synergies. Although both products
> work OK in their separate ways.

I actually didn't realise until I read this thread that Ebay owns Skype.
I use skype regularly, and honestly had no idea.

In message , at 16:47:24 on 
Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>>Ebay bought Skype some time last year.
>>
>>It was three years ago next week.
>
>You will have to forgive me for that error.

Well, we have come to expect a certain degree of latitude with your 
statements about eBay.

>Unlike you I didn't rush out to install it as soon as ebay started 
>saying it was the safest way to make telephone calls and that all other 
>methods of communication lead to identity theft.

I don't think eBay ever said that.
-- 
Roland Perry

Roland Perry  wrote:
 

>In message , at 16:47:24 on 
>Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>>>Ebay bought Skype some time last year.
>>>
>>>It was three years ago next week.
>>
>>You will have to forgive me for that error.
>
>Well, we have come to expect a certain degree of latitude with your 
>statements about eBay.
>
>>Unlike you I didn't rush out to install it as soon as ebay started 
>>saying it was the safest way to make telephone calls and that all other 
>>methods of communication lead to identity theft.
>
>I don't think eBay ever said that.

They erased it from your conscious memory.

In message , at 17:54:59 on 
Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>I don't think eBay ever said that.
>
>They erased it from your conscious memory.

Look mum! Another eBay conspiracy theory :)
-- 
Roland Perry

Roland Perry  wrote:
 

>In message , at 17:54:59 on 
>Mon, 1 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>>I don't think eBay ever said that.
>>
>>They erased it from your conscious memory.
>
>Look mum! Another eBay conspiracy theory :)

Have you kept your mam in a rocking chair all these years?

In message , at 10:28:43 on 
Tue, 2 Sep 2008, Spacker  remarked:
>>>>I don't think eBay ever said that.
>>>
>>>They erased it from your conscious memory.
>>
>>Look mum! Another eBay conspiracy theory :)
>
>Have you kept your mam in a rocking chair all these years?

I sold her on eBay.
-- 
Roland Perry

"Kim Andrews"  wrote in message 
news:6i27qdFom5bpU1@mid.individual.net...
> Jake wrote

>> So then it could be just an advertisement to get me to use Skype and it 
>> has nothing to do with ebay itself.  What I don't get, if that is the 
>> case, is why the pop-up bar asking me to run this Skype add-on only pops 
>> up when I click on an auction, and not anywhere else...like say when i'm 
>> in my ebay, or when I'm looking at the listings in any of the categories?
>>
>> Also, the term 'add-on' implies it has something specific to do with 
>> ebay. If that's the case then it's not just an advertisement to get 
>> Skype, on it's own, for whatever it is Skype does.
>
> I'm not sure why this is so difficult,

I know, I would've thought I'd have got an answer to my question by now!

I'm still not sure what it's for and what it does.

> but... ebay owns skype, so they want you to use it as much as possible to 
> justify the fact that they *hugely* over paid for it. ebay auctions have a 
> built-in "you can use skype to talk to your customers" function, which I 
> simply ignore as I refuse to let skype anywhere near my computer. You have 
> bought a new machine that has something also built in because skype and 
> the manufacturer have done some sort of bundled deal. Your machine knows 
> it's got skype. ebay owns skype. ebay auctions can use skype to 
> communicate. These factors all come together to perform one neat and 
> annoying function when you view an auction.
>
> What you choose to do about that is up to you, but if it was me I'd be 
> disabling anything I could lay my hands on... so to speak. ;o)

Ah good.  I've uninstalled it.   The thing that really stood out in the 
replies was the general dislike of Skype, it was the one thing you all 
agreed on so I thought "I won't miss what I didn't use" and got rid.

"Jay Kaner"  wrote in message 
news:3Ajvk.52130$E41.9194@text.news.virginmedia.com...

> Ah good.  I've uninstalled it.   The thing that really stood out in the 
> replies was the general dislike of Skype, it was the one thing you all 
> agreed on so I thought "I won't miss what I didn't use" and got rid.

Just as well. Have a look at this:

Skype ignores PayPal-siphoning hijack scheme

The phone company without a phone

By Dan Goodin in San Francisco ? More by this author
Published Tuesday 2nd September 2008 21:41 GMT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


One day last month, when Klaus Zimmerman tried to log into his Skype 
account, he got an error message indicating his username and password didn't 
match. Concerned something was awry, Zimmerman, a computer repairman living 
in Wexford County, Ireland, phoned his brother and asked him to check his 
online status.

"I saw you on earlier, but your picture was gone," the brother reported. 
"You're now listed as living in Germany." On top of that, the person logged 
in was no longer answering the brother's queries.

Forum threads here, here and here and Google searches here and here suggest 
Zimmerman's experience is by no means unusual. The Register has contacted 
many victims, and a common pattern has emerged. Around the same time the 
victims are locked out of their accounts, they receive emails indicating 
their PayPal accounts are being charged for funds that are credited to the 
purloined Skype accounts. Frantic emails reporting the problem remain 
unanswered for weeks or months by Skype and PayPal representatives.

"Basically, you get a generic email saying 'Sorry you're having problems 
with Skype, we'll try to solve the problem,'" says Dave Ballard, a 
Newfoundland, Canada-based graphics artist, whose account has been 
inaccessible for five weeks. The eBay powerseller adds: "This is just not 
right because it's costing me thousands of dollars."

The account contained more than 200 contacts of people Ballard has done 
business with. Skype doesn't provide a means to back up contacts, so once a 
user is locked out of an account, the contacts are permanently lost.

Ballard says he sent Skype's support team 34 emails, one each day since the 
account was hijacked, but never received a live response. Late last week, a 
Skype rep contacted him to acknowledge the problem and offered him a refund. 
He remains locked out of the account he's used for three years.

The rash of Skype hijackings come on top of a separate issue in which PayPal 
users are debited for Skype services they never ordered. Since reporting the 
problem in June, Vulture Central has been inundated with email from readers 
who say they too continue to experience mysterious Skype charges.

The Register has repeatedly contacted representatives from eBay, PayPal and 
Skype, but at time of writing, none of them were able to discuss whether 
company officials are aware the of the glitch or what they're doing to fix 
it. Shortly after this article was published, a Skype spokeswoman email a 
statement that read:

"We are continually working to educate our users on how to protect their 
online accounts and take precautions to prevent as many of these fraudulent 
transactions as possible. Unfortunately for some users we cannot get back to 
them as quickly as they'd like but we are doing our best to make our 
Customer Support as effective and efficient as possible."

We're still trying to understand how the attackers are commandeering the 
accounts. There are no reports of phishing emails or other attempts at 
social engineering. And the Skype client encrypts usernames and passwords 
during the login process, making a man-in-the-middle attack unlikely. If 
your account has been hijacked, please post the particulars as a comment to 
this story, or contact the reporter using this link.

In the meantime, Skype users should consider reconfiguring their account so 
it's no longer possible to automatically debit money from PayPal accounts or 
credit cards.

Several of the victims work in the information technology industry and say 
they take pains to use strong passwords and log in to their accounts only 
from secure machines located at home.

"I'm fairly IT savvy," says James M. Fahey, a Boston resident who recently 
found $40 worth of Skype charges debited to his PayPal account. The strange 
thing, he says, is that the credits were added to someone else's Skype 
account, not his. When he sent emails protesting the charges, a 
representative insisted the account that was credited was the one Fahey had 
been using for years.

Fahey was unable to persuade the representative, even after he sent 
screenshots proving the account under his control hadn't been credited, so 
he decided to delink his credit card from the account and drop the matter.

"It just blows me away that Skype doesn't respond or make corrections to 
what's going on," he says. "It's a phone company, but they don't have any 
phone number to respond."

Indeed, the only victim we've talked to who has reported a satisfactory 
outcome is Zimmerman. Several days after we first spoke to him, he reported 
receiving an email from a Skype representative informing him his account had 
been been reset. Within two minutes, he had regained control of the account, 
but was saddened to find all his contacts missing.

While he's glad to be reunited with an account he's used for years, he says 
the experience has him looking over his shoulder.

"My identity was used for God knows what," he says. "Maybe at some point, 
I'll get some nasty email saying, 'Weren't you the one who did such and 
such?'"

"Fran"  wrote in message 
news:g9khkk$71a$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> "Jay Kaner"  wrote in message 
> news:3Ajvk.52130$E41.9194@text.news.virginmedia.com...
>
>> Ah good.  I've uninstalled it.   The thing that really stood out in the 
>> replies was the general dislike of Skype, it was the one thing you all 
>> agreed on so I thought "I won't miss what I didn't use" and got rid.
>
> Just as well. Have a look at this:

<snip>

I did...  that's unbelievable...well it's not, not with ebay and paypal, but 
you know what I meant ;)

That's really bad tho'.    Glad I got rid of it now!!

In message <qblvk.52181$E41.40@text.news.virginmedia.com>, at 00:50:30 
on Wed, 3 Sep 2008, Jake  remarked:
>>> Ah good.  I've uninstalled it.   The thing that really stood out in 
>>>the  replies was the general dislike of Skype, it was the one thing 
>>>you all  agreed on so I thought "I won't miss what I didn't use" and 
>>>
>>
>> Just as well. Have a look at this:
>
><snip>
>
>I did...  that's unbelievable...well it's not, not with ebay and 
>paypal, but you know what I meant ;)
>
>That's really bad tho'.    Glad I got rid of it now!!

The thing is, the standard Skype install and usage is free. You don't 
have to register any means of payment. If you haven't subscribed to the 
"extra" services, then the financial risks mentioned don't exist.
-- 
Roland Perry