Should I remove Skype?
What percent of users and experts removed it?
12% remove it88% keep it
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #623
United States Rank #1,118
Reach 1.0762%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 14.43 days
425.65 days >
Average installed length: 223.65 days
Versions
| Version | Distribution |
| 6.6.106 |
99.95% |
|
| 6.6.14 |
0.05% |
|
Typically installed together
Other programs by Skype Technologies
Skype 6.6
What is Skype? (from Skype Technologies)
To ensure a consistent Skype experience no matter what device you use we have updated the behavior for video messaging access points when a contact is offline and the share (plus button) menu. When a contact is offline, the video call button will now display as greyed out rather than showing the video message button. T... Read more
Overview
Skype 6.6 is a software program developed by Skype Technologies. The most common release is 6.6.106, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. It adds registry entry for the current user which will allow the program to automatically start each time it is rebooted. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. The program adds a toolbar to Microsoft Internet Explorer. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. When installed, it will add a context menu handler to the Windows shell in order to provide quick access to the program. The programs's main executable is skype.exe and has been seen to consume an average CPU of less than one percent, and utilizes about 143.46 MB of memory. It also includes a system tray icon that is displayed in the notifications area while the program is running. The setup package generally installs about 199 files and is usually about 49.81 MB (52,229,131 bytes). The installed file Updater.dll is the auto-update component of the program which is designed to check for software updates and notify and apply them when new versions are discovered. Relative to the overall usage of users who have this installed on their PCs, most are running Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 10. While about 33% of users of Skype come from the United States, it is also popular in Germany and Brazil.
Program details
URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.6.0.106/en/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Skype\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 49.81 MB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by Skype 6.6
| Program executable: | skype.exe |
| Name: | Skype |
| Skype |
| Signed by: | Skype Technologies SA |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe |
| MD5: | b141f8f8b0ff37ffc51f9b71ee7a641b |
| Taskbar: | Displays an icon in the notification area |
| Skype starts up when your computer boots and remains in the background throughout the lifecycle of your PC. If you have Skype installed on a computer that's connected to the Internet, you can make phone calls, send text messages, connect to... |
Additional files:
-
SkypeClicktoCall.exe - Skype Toolbars (Skype Click to Call installer)
-
Skype-6.2.73.106.exe - Skype
-
SkypeSetup.exe
-
SkypeSetupFull.exe
-
SkypeContacts.dll - SkypeContacts ActiveX Control Module (Skype Contacts ActiveX Control Module)
-
SkypeBrowserOptions.dll - Skye plug-in settings dialog (Skype plug-in settings dialog)
-
NameParserComponent.dll - Skype name parser component
-
S4OLDlgActions.dll - Skype Toolbars v.4.0.0.4611 (Contains Actions Dialog (v.1.0.92.4611))
-
S4OLDlgSettings.dll - Contains Settings Dialog (v.1.0.195.4611)
-
skype_toolbar.dll - Skype for Internet Explorer (Skype for Internet Explorer Module)
-
SkypeOLAddIn.dll - Contains Skype Toolbar for OutLook ActiveX component (v.1.0.40.4611)
-
SkypeIEPluginBroker.exe - Skype broker for IE add-on
-
SkypePnr.dll - Skype Phone number parser
-
SPhoneParser.dll
-
EasyHideHelper.dll - EasyHideHelper Module
-
skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call (Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer)
-
NameParserComponent2.dll
-
SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
-
SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
-
Skype4COM.dll - Skype4COM (Skype for COM API)
-
Skype4ComAPI.dll
-
SkypePro.exe
-
Updater.dll - Skype Updater Library
-
Updater.exe - Skype Updater Service
-
skypePM.exe - Skype Extras Manager
Behaviors exhibited
2 Context Menu Handlers
- Skype4COM.dll added to Windows Explorer under the name 'XXX Groove GFS Context Menu Handler XXX' with a class of .
- Skype4ComAPI.dll added to Windows Explorer under the name 'XXX Groove GFS Context Menu Handler XXX' with a class of .
2 Internet Explorer BHOs
- skypeieplugin.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Skype add-on (mastermind)' with the class of {22BF413B-C6D2-4d91-82A9-A0F997BA588C}.
- skype_toolbar.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'SkypeIEHelper Class' with the class of {22BF413B-C6D2-4d91-82A9-A0F997BA588C} (SkypeIEHelper).
2 Internet Explorer Extensions
- skypeieplugin.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension as 'Skype add-on (button)' with a class of {77BF5300-1474-4EC7-9980-D32B190E9B07}.
- EasyHideHelper.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension as 'EasyHideBtn Class' with a class of {77BF5300-1474-4EC7-9980-D32B190E9B07}.
Internet Explorer Toolbar
- skype_toolbar.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Skype Toolbar for Internet Explorer' with the class of {B13721C7-F507-4982-B2E5-502A71474FED}.
Internet Explorer Web Browser
- skype_toolbar.dll installs an IE Web Browser in Internet Explorer named 'Skype Toolbar for Internet Explorer' with a class of {B13721C7-F507-4982-B2E5-502A71474FED}.
2 Mozilla Plugins
- Skype4COM.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'Office Authorization'.
- Skype4ComAPI.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'Office Authorization'.
2 Scheduled Tasks
- Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{3EF30E26-4056-47E9-9B06-14774B0CF8BB}' (runs on registration).
- SkypePro.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{88AA2BEF-3C39-4EF4-9C93-E0F183694E60}' (runs on registration).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
- Skype.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Skype @ Logon.
Service
- Updater.exe runs as a service named 'Skype Updater' (SkypeUpdate) "Enables the detection, download and installation of updates for Skype.".
2 Startup Files (User Run)
- Skype.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'Skype' and executes as "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /minimized /regrun.
- SkypePro.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'Skype' and executes as "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized.
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
- skypePM.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Documents and Settings\Lonia\Ustawienia lokalne\Dane aplikacji\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe'.
- Skype.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.
- SkypePro.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| skype.exe |
| Memory: | 143.46 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0051311943% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00248889% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00264230% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 38,166,142 | |
| Switches/sec: | 391 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 80.22 KB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 165.28 KB | |
| skypePM.exe |
| Memory: | 12.84 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0044418892% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00250564% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00193624% | |
| Switches/sec: | 1 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 166 Bytes | |
| I/O writes/min: | 8 Bytes | |
How do I remove Skype?
You can uninstall Skype from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Skype™ 6.6, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Skype.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Skype 6.6 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 65%
Win Vista (SP1) 0%
|
|
WHEN IT STARTS
Auto-starting? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 12%
Keep it 88%
|
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
72.24% |
|
| Windows 10 |
14.85% |
|
| Windows XP |
7.99% |
|
| Windows Vista |
4.88% |
|
| Windows Server 2003 |
0.03% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
34.20% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
20.60% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
12.41% |
|
| Microsoft Windows XP |
7.91% |
|
| Windows 8 Pro |
5.09% |
|
| Windows 8 |
3.99% |
|
Geography
33.24% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
33.24% |
| Germany |
6.63% |
| Brazil |
6.27% |
| United Kingdom |
4.12% |
| Canada |
3.23% |
| France |
2.97% |
| Italy |
2.73% |
| Australia |
2.01% |
| MK |
2.01% |
| Israel |
1.72% |
| Croatia |
1.65% |
| Turkey |
1.47% |
| Netherlands |
1.39% |
| Spain |
1.33% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Hewlett-Packard |
25.82% |
|
| Dell |
21.23% |
|
| Acer |
17.35% |
|
| ASUS |
9.90% |
|
| GIGABYTE |
6.78% |
|
| Toshiba |
5.61% |
|
| Samsung |
4.99% |
|
| Lenovo |
3.78% |
|
| Intel |
2.45% |
|
| American Megatrends |
1.33% |
|
| Sahara |
0.75% |
|
Common models |
| HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
9.19% |
|
| HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
6.05% |
|
| HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
5.06% |
|
| Dell Inspiron N5110 |
3.43% |
|
| Dell Inspiron N5010 |
2.59% |
|
| HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... |
2.23% |
|
About Skype Technologies
Skype (now a Microsoft company) developes and operates the VoIP software and service Skype which was released as a simple computer-to-computer, or computer-to-telephone program.
Publisher URL: www.skype.com