So, whom better than probably the most widely known and best-publicised product out there, Skype! And then I did a little digging and it didn’t take me long to come up with this article where they’re talking about a backdoor in Skype for listening in on VoIP calls or monitoring IM chats. Although Skype denies the allegations, it’s still of concern.

Which brings me to another point, alternatives – trustworthy alternatives. The words “trust” and “internet” just don’t go hand in hand anymore these days or are we just becoming a bunch of cynics. So I looked at what other alternatives for IM/VoIP software there is out there and it’s almost a limitless list, where to begin, which is better?

Where to from here? Encrypted smoke-signals? Or do we just learn how to communicate telepathically (encrypted of course) to prevent Big Brother from listening in?

I remember back in the day, when we were first introduced to the Internet in South Africa in the early 90′s, things seemed so much simpler back then. You had a website (or a single page, if you were lucky) that you could put up for the world to see – well the world, back then being your friends and family who saw it on your PC screen, as it would take about a year to be indexed, if at all!

Well that was Web 1.0, today we’re bombarded with Web 2.0! Interacting with people, social networking, rich media – where do you start, where do you go? Nowdays you not only have to keep your website updated, but your blog, your professional networking profile and your social networking profile. Nevermind all the emails you have to wade through, and don’t get me even started on SPAM!

How do you communicate with people online? Before, it was just email. Then tools like PowWow and ICQ appeared and we had an easier and instant way of communicating with people all over the world. Add, audio, video teleconferencing and it’s like you’re there! Heck, even surgeons are training and consulting using these kinds of tools today! What will it be like 2 to 3 generations from now? Will we be born with microchips embedded in our brains, already linked up to the super highway (well, except for in SA where we’re still about 5 to 10 years behind everyone else)?