Recently, Skype Journal and VOIP-News have been discussing unwanted, frustrating, irritating and even embarrassing IMs and voicemails on Skype. People use these techniques to push porn, spam and other images and messages you wouldn’t want anyone in your home exposed to.

They are a pain. I can remember getting phone calls and even contact-list entries from people I didn’t know when I first signed on with Skype a couple years ago.

There is a simple solution to keeping these intruders out. Force Skype to only allow calls from people in your contact list.

Here's an example of how: Go to and click on “Tools” on your Skype toolbar. Scroll to and click on “Options...” Then select “Privacy” and finally click on “Only allow people in my Contact List to contact me.”

There are more advanced options as well, including only accepting chats and videos from people in your contact list. You also can block calls when the caller hides his number.

Be aware: SkypeMe mode in presence disables your privacy settings and enables everyone else on Skype to contact you, including people you don't know. Check out the Knowledgebase for information on SkypeMe! mode.

Your privacy settings are restored as soon as you leave SkypeMe! mode

Matthias Becke also suggests at VOIP-NEWS that to discourage unsolicited attention to remove personal information from your profile, “especially gender,” and also to avoid public chats, where Skype numbers are harvested.

Since I made those changes to my Skype account, I have only heard from the people I want to hear from. I wish I were that lucky with my landline.