84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
2% remove it98% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Very good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #15,845
United States Rank #49,559
Reach 0.0168%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 257.07 days
758.79 days >
Average installed length: 398.69 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
6.0.126 87.65%
6.0.125 1.51%
6.0.120 10.84%

Skype 6.0

What is Skype?

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.

About  (from Skype Technologies)

You can make Skype calls to people who have emailed you and even call phones and mobile around the world with pretty cheap rates. Why just talk when you can see each other face-to-face? Video call your family in Australia, your friends in Spain or your colleagues in Japan, for free. It’s the next best thing to being th...  Read more
Overview
  • Starts automatically
  • Loads into the web browser
  • Adds a Windows Service

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.0.0.126/ja/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Skype\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{EA17F4FC-FDBF-4CF8-A529-2D983132D053}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 17.39 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 6.0

Program executable:skype.exe
Name:Skype
Skype
Signed by:Skype Technologies SA
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:2c6dfc761f1dae61940c7eae97ebdb19
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:
  • SkypeSetup.exe - Skype
  • SkypeBrowserOptions.dll - Skype Click to Call (Skype plug-in settings dialog)
  • skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer
  • SkypeIEPluginBroker.exe - Skype broker for IE add-on
  • SkypePnr.dll - Skype Phone Number Recognizer
  • NameParserComponent2.dll - Skype Toolbars (Skype name parser component)
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • Updater.dll - Skype Updater Library
  • Updater.exe - Skype Updater Service

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

Internet Explorer BHO
  • skypeieplugin.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Skype Browser Helper' with the class of {AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497} (SkypeIEPluginBHO).
Internet Explorer Extension
  • skypeieplugin.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension using the class -{898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5}.
Scheduled Task
  • Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{A8F4659A-595A-48F8-9E26-A044F52475BE}' (runs on registration).
Service
  • Updater.exe runs as a service named 'Skype Updater' (SkypeUpdate) "Enables the detection, download and installation of updates for Skype.".
Startup File (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.
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
  • Skype.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

skype.exe
Memory:112.46 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0085601927%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00580445%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00275574%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:14,822,568
8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:125
70 average
I/O reads/min:21.08 KB
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:10.94 KB
105.02 KB average

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.
  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) 6.0, 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.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Skype 6.0 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 67%
Win Vista 0%
 
WHEN IT STARTS
Auto-starting? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 2%
Keep it 98%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 73.49%
Windows XP 16.87%
Windows Vista 6.02%
Windows 10 3.61%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 30.25%
Windows 7 Ultimate 29.32%
Microsoft Windows XP 16.36%
Windows 7 Professional 10.19%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 5.25%
Windows 7 Enterprise 2.78%

Distribution by countryGeography

52.10% of installs come from Taiwan
Which countries install it?
  Taiwan 52.10%
  Japan 22.46%
  United States 7.49%
  Thailand 7.19%
  Hong Kong 4.49%
  China 1.80%
  Malaysia 0.90%
  Australia 0.60%
  Singapore 0.30%
  Brazil 0.30%
  UA 0.30%
  Switzerland 0.30%
  New Zealand 0.30%
  BD 0.30%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Acer 27.07%
ASUS 21.55%
Dell 12.71%
Hewlett-Packard 10.50%
GIGABYTE 8.84%
Lenovo 6.63%
Toshiba 5.52%
American Megatrends 2.21%
NEC 2.21%
Sahara 1.66%
Samsung 1.10%
Common models
GBT AWRDACPI 2.52%
LENOVO 20078 2.52%
Hewlett-Packard Compaq Pr... 1.68%
Acer Aspire 4820TG 1.68%
Acer Aspire 5630 1.68%
TOSHIBA Satellite L850 1.68%

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

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