In its endeavor to reduce spam, Skype has fixed two security issues in its telephone service -thereby urging users to download its Internet telephone program's new version, Skype 4.1, so as to restrict the risk associated with the recently-identified Peskyspy Trojan, a spyware which can record a voice call and store it as an mp3 file, for spreading it later on.

According to Skype, though the spyware actually does not exploit the Skype software; it, nonetheless, attaches itself to the hard drive of a computer like any other virus, and listens to the sound coming through the computer's audio device.

Skype said that its 4.1 version for Windows not only ensures that "links are not clickable in contact-authorization requests," but also addresses some other issues like frozen images on Web cams, and crashing of the Skype service on older computers.

Talking about the Peskyspy Trojan, Skype's Peter Parkes said: "It doesn't exploit the Skype software. Instead it 'listens in' to the audio data which is transferred between Skype and your computer hardware - your headset and microphone, for example - and it does this, using processes which are available in Microsoft Windows. It's like standing next to someone when they are talking."

Parkes advised the users to refrain from opening files from unknown people, as well as staying up to date with patches and security software.