<p>A recently released report from U.K. paper The Guardian reveals that Redmond, WA-based Microsoft allowed the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) to have preferential access to user data for its Hotmail email service, and Skype video chat service.</p><p>This new information is contrary to earlier reports by the company that denied widespread and cooperative involvement with NSA spying efforts.</p><p>Microsoft, the report claims, has worked closely with U.S. intelligence services to allow Hotmail and Skype communications and metadata to be intercepted. Microsoft's aid allows the NSA to bypass the company's encryption algorithms, which give users a false sense of data security.</p><p>Information obtained by whistleblower and former government contractor Edward Snowden shows the large scale of collaboration between the U.S. spy agency and Microsoft over the last two to three years.</p><p><a href="http://www.szsu.com/2013/07/16/hotmail-and-skype-microsoft-allowed-nsa-special-access-to-data/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/microsoft-calls-on-us-atty-gen-to-allow-it-to-share-nsa-security-request-info">Microsoft calls on US Atty Gen to allow it to share NSA security request info</a> (Examiner.com)</p><p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2013/0717/Microsoft-hits-out-at-NSA-reports-and-Obama-Justice-department">Microsoft hits out at NSA reports and Obama Justice department</a> (Christian Science Monitor)</p><p><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/microsoft-refutes-report-that-it-willingly-helped-us-government-spy-1166416">Microsoft goes on the Prism offensive, asks U.S. Attorney General to step in</a> (TechRadar UK)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dOzuigNMHbMEm_MV4_zj3J3djqgzM&ned=us">110 additional articles.</a></p>