~!#$%& Skype! (rant)

[vansloneker]

The older Skype on my Windows and Linux is blocked. Skype download on new Mint leaves me with a blank window. Skype from software manager sort of works. But I get a long list of contacts and phone numbers I have ever connected to, can't hide that. And while texting with a mate, there is a spell checker I can't turn off or change language.
I tell you, I dislike Microsoft more for what they did to Skype as for erm, some other reason.

[jimallyn]

There are other ways to communicate besides Skype. There's the tox protocol, for which there are several clients, including qtox and gtox, and others, including for smart phones. Look into it.

[vansloneker]

Just was going to add, it's my main communication channel with a hearing impaired friend. The only person for whom I keep it up.

[ajgreeny]

In the Skype Tools -> Settings menu make sure that you set Skype to start automatically but also that you do not select the "Start Skype in the background".
It should then start as a working fully visible window but you can then simply close the window, leaving skype running in the background.

I am now using Skype version 8.19.76.3 from their repos which are enabled when you install the skypeforlinux.deb, though if you use synaptic yiou can choose which version you want as there are 10 different versions available from 8.14.0.10 up to my 8.19.76.3.

Good luck! I feel your difficulty of having to use Skype is similar to mine; there is no point me telling other users to try qtox and gtox or anything else, as they all expect everybody to use Skype, as they do, and nothing else than Skype can talk to Skype.
Annoying but fact!

[OS_Researcher]

I got fed up with Skype. As a matter of fact I am fed up with everything Microsoft. I found this, https://wire.com/en/ , it's free, they do have a paid version but it isn't needed. It works with Linux, Windows, Android, iOS, MacOS, and the most popular browsers. Damn good HD picture and very good audio. All my friends switched with no issues and were happy to dump Skype, and just so you know, they are all windows users.

[vansloneker]

I had to install Skype on a Windows computer last weekend and it's stripped down even more. Even less settings to set.

[vansloneker]

Finally had one version working, now I can't login on Skype-Mint because Skype demands my birthday. Like I am going to share that with Skype

[GS3]

... Skype demands my birthday. Like I am going to share that with Skype

We all know your birthday is April 1, 1998. No need to hide it.

[vansloneker]

That makes me a life time Skype member!

[vansloneker]

On Windows 10 I have installed an older version of Skype hoping the age screen doesn't show, but miraculously when I start the older version the age screen does show and it identifies as the new version. Even after uninstalling via CCleaner, and removing the package from C:\Users\vansloneker\AppData\Local\Packages this new version remains persistent.

[GS3]

I never liked or used Skype because it was unsafe from the first day it came out. Then it was bought by MS and that gave me one more reason to avoid it.

Just was going to add, it's my main communication channel with a hearing impaired friend. The only person for whom I keep it up.

So I take it you are using it just for text? There must be many options out there for text chatting between computers.

I wonder what happened to ICQ. They pretty much invented it and had a monopoly and then disappeared.

Have a look at https://itsfoss.com/best-messaging-apps-linux/

At any rate. Personal questions don't bother me too much as I have multiple personalities. On one site I can be a 20 year old student with annual income of $650K, married, with 5 kids and in the next I can be an 85 year old grandma with no kids driving a Ferrari and living on food stamps. But a phone number which would link to me in meatspace? Forget it. No way.

[phd21]

Hi vansloneker,

I just read your post and some of the good and humorous replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

There are many good posts on this topic already in this forum.

I have been recommending to everyone to switch from the insecure "Skype" application, or other insecure multimedia messaging apps, to another secure multi-media messaging application (text, voice, video chat) for years like "qTox (Qtox)" my favorite, and or one of the Tox clients (uTox, toxygen, etc...), "Wire" which was created by ex-Skype developers, "Ring", "Jitsi", Linphone", etc...

"Skype" is a good application when it works, but it is well known to not be secure and is monitored by government agencies and others world-wide, it is used by hackers to hack your system and steal your information, etc... Linux users have been told to use their "Skype for Linux" application from their website. Other Linux Mint users have told me that they use "Rambox" which has Skype and other apps in it and claim it works for them.

Hope this helps ...