Drug Dealers' New Favorite Medium

Swiss authorities reportedly are investigating dozens of drug-related cases in which dealers have used Skype to communicate. The VOIP service, which encrypts calls using stronger 256-bit keys, not surprisingly is becoming a popular evasion technique for bad guys.

Experts say this is a global crime problem, and that although Skype itself could decrypt the calls for law enforcement, the company has not always been helpful.

"Skype has good intentions, but they are outweighed by stronger commercial interests," a chief examining magistrate in Geneva told SwissInfo in a published report.

Skype disputes the claims that it's been uncooperative and says it is working with law enforcement.

— Kelly Jackson Higgins, Senior Editor, Dark Reading