84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
7% remove it93% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Very good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #737
United States Rank #1,045
Reach 0.9241%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 19.83 days
584.90 days >
Average installed length: 307.32 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
6.1.130 1.39%
6.1.129 98.60%
6.1.29 0.01%

Skype 6.1

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
  • Automatically starts with Windows
  • Integrates into the web browser
  • Installs a Windows Service

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.1.0.129/sv/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: 18.09 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 6.1

Program executable:skype.exe
Name:Skype
Skype
Signed by:Skype Technologies SA
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:497f27e279c0f921e2130bb89c1cb5ca
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:
  • skype4com.dll - Skype4COM (Skype for COM API)
  • SkypeSetup.exe - Skype
  • SkypeSetupFull.exe
  • SkypeSetupFull179.exe
  • SkypeContacts.dll - SkypeContacts ActiveX Control Module (Skype Contacts ActiveX Control Module)
  • NameProxy.dll - Skype IE plug-in name highlighter
  • NameProxyPS.dll
  • S4EmailSettings.dll - Skype Toolbars for Email Settings
  • 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)
  • 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
  • c2c_service.exe - Skype Click to Call (Skype C2C Service)
  • skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer
  • NameParserComponent2.dll - Skype Toolbars
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
  • Skype4ComAPI.dll
  • 5.5.0.124_SkypeSetup.exe
  • Skype1.exe
  • Updater.dll - Skype Updater Library
  • Updater.exe - Skype Updater Service
  • skypePM.exe - Skype Extras Manager
  • Uninstall.exe

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

Internet Explorer BHO
  • 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}.
Internet Explorer Extension
  • skypeieplugin.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension as 'Skype add-on (button)' with a class of {77BF5300-1474-4EC7-9980-D32B190E9B07}.
2 Scheduled Tasks
  • Skype1.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{D7946B9F-EEE5-47B2-B893-DEE2588263B4}' (runs on registration).
  • Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{3EF30E26-4056-47E9-9B06-14774B0CF8BB}' (runs on registration).
2 Services
  • Updater.exe runs as a service named 'Skype Updater' (SkypeUpdate) "Enables the detection, download and installation of updates for Skype.".
  • c2c_service.exe runs as a service named 'Skype C2C Service' (Skype C2C Service) "Skype Click to Call Update Service".
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" /nosplash /minimized.
Startup File (All Users Run)
  • Skype.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'Skype' which loads as "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /minimized /regrun.
2 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:\skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

skype.exe
Memory:114.41 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0036670975%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00187892%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00178817%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:17,517,785
8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:141
70 average
I/O reads/min:43.77 KB
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:27.87 KB
105.02 KB average
c2c_service.exe
Memory:3.16 MB
Total CPU:0.0026354486%
Kernel CPU:0.00123366%
User CPU:0.00140179%
CPU cycles/sec:116,118
Switches/sec:20
I/O reads/min:2 Bytes
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.
  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™ 6.1, 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 6.1 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 7%
Keep it 93%
 
GLOBAL RANK
#737

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 74.85%
Windows XP 9.93%
Windows 10 7.59%
Windows Vista 7.57%
Windows Server 2003 0.05%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 39.03%
Windows 7 Ultimate 19.88%
Windows 7 Professional 11.39%
Microsoft Windows XP 9.87%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 5.91%
Windows 8 Pro 2.38%

Distribution by countryGeography

37.58% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 37.58%
  Germany 10.07%
  United Kingdom 3.84%
  Brazil 3.52%
  Canada 3.30%
  Italy 3.26%
  France 2.68%
  Spain 2.43%
  Hungary 2.23%
  Australia 1.55%
  India 1.26%
  Netherlands 1.25%
  Mexico 1.18%
  Poland 1.18%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 26.83%
Dell 22.32%
Acer 18.95%
ASUS 7.80%
Toshiba 6.99%
GIGABYTE 6.83%
Samsung 4.31%
Lenovo 2.14%
American Megatrends 1.58%
Intel 1.45%
MSI 0.80%
Common models
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 9.25%
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... 6.40%
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... 4.48%
Dell Inspiron N5110 3.14%
Dell Inspiron 1545 2.80%
HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... 2.72%

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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