Should I remove Skype?

Lifespan of installation (until removal)

Versions

Version	Distribution
6.6.106	97.91%
6.6.14	2.09%

Typically installed together

• Skype Click to Call

Other programs by Skype Technologies

• Skype Click to Call
• Skype Toolbars
• Skype 6.0
• Skype web features
• Skype 5.0
• Skype Launcher
• Skype Web Plugin
• Skype 4.0
• Skype 3.6
• Skype 2.5
• Skype Toolbar for Outlook
• Skype 3.1
• Skype 3.0
• Skype Plugin Manager
• Skype Setup
• Skype 1.0
• Facebook Video Calling 1.2.0.287
• Click to Call with Skype

Rankings

• #6,518 LibreOffice 4.1 Help Pack (English (United States)) by The Document Foundation
• #6,519 AuthenTec Fingerprint Sensor Minimum Install
• #6,520 StarMoney 8.0 by Star Finanz GmbH
• #6,521 SketchUp Pro 8 by Trimble Navigation Limited
• #6,522 Mplayer 0.6.9
• #6,523 Skype 6.6
• #6,524 TOSHIBA Internal Modem Region Select Utility
• #6,525 Synology Data Replicator 3
• #6,526 VAIO - PMB VAIO Edition plug-in (Click to Disc) by Sony
• #6,527 Absolute Notifier
• #6,528 Google Toolbar for Firefox

from Skype Technologies S.A.

Remove Skype 6.6

Skype is a proprietary Voice over IP service and software application. The service allows users to communicate with peers by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. Phone calls may be placed to recipients on the traditional telephone networks. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free of charge, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones are charged via a debit-based user account system. Unlike most other VoIP services, Skype is a hybrid peer-to-peer and client–server system. It makes use of background processing on computers running Skype software. Skype's original proposed name (Sky Peer-to-Peer) reflects this fact. Skype is claimed to be a secure communication; encryption cannot be disabled, and is invisible to the user. Version 3.6 improves video quality for video calls.

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. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to 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 primary executable is named skype.exe. 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 25 files and is usually about 19.22 MB (20,157,596 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.

URL: www.skype.com

Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.6.0.106/x1/help

Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Skype\

Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{4E76FF7E-AEBA-4C87-B788-CD47E5425B9D}

Estimated size: 19.22 MB

Language: English (United States)

skype.exe
Memory:	143.46 MB	21.09 MB average
Total CPU:	0.0051311943%	0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:	0.00248889%	0.016088% average
User CPU:	0.00264230%	0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:	38,166,142	8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:	391	70 average
I/O reads/min:	80.22 KB	435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:	165.28 KB	105.02 KB average

1. 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.
2. When you find the program Skype(TM) 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).
3. Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Skype.

1. Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
2. 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.
3. The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
2. To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
3. When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.

1. Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Restart Google Chrome.

OS VERSIONS Win 7 (SP1) 69% Win 7 0%

WHEN IT STARTS Auto-starting? Yes (Found in the run registry)

USER ACTIONS Uninstall it 6% Keep it 94%

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?

Taiwan	48.20%
Japan	34.22%
Hong Kong	4.61%
United States	3.67%
Thailand	2.73%
China	2.42%
Canada	0.86%
Malaysia	0.63%
Vietnam	0.31%
Australia	0.31%
Macau	0.31%
Germany	0.23%
Brazil	0.16%
Philippines	0.16%

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?

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

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