84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
6% remove it94% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Very good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #22,435
United States Rank #47,084
Reach 0.0087%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 20.12 days
593.67 days >
Average installed length: 311.93 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
3.6.248 48.26%
3.6.244 40.12%
3.6.216 11.63%

Skype 3.6

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. Version 3.6 improves video quality for video calls.

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

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/3.6.0.248/fr/help
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Skype\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{5C82DAE5-6EB0-4374-9254-BE3319BA4E82}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 28.21 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 3.6

Program executable:skype.exe
Name:Skype
Skype
Signed by:Skype Technologies SA
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:edbc8611e999c96f881b8aa10ae7fd75
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:
  • NameParserComponent.dll - Skype name parser component
  • SPhoneParser.dll - Skype Phone number parser
  • 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
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
  • skypePM.exe - Skype Extras Manager

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}.
Scheduled Task
  • Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{3652E262-486A-46FA-A6C8-0FF4A4FA9F2B}' (runs on registration).
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.
2 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
  • Skype.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.
  • skypePM.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Plugin Manager\skypePM.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

skype.exe
Memory:36.99 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0006459502%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00041874%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00022721%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:78,331
8,062,084 average
I/O reads/min:264 Bytes
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:74 Bytes
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™ 3.6, 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.

How do I reset my web browser?

If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Skype 3.6 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome

OS VERSIONS
Win XP 28%
Win 8 1%
 
WHEN IT STARTS
Auto-starting? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 6%
Keep it 94%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 47.37%
Windows XP 35.67%
Windows Vista 12.87%
Windows 10 4.09%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Microsoft Windows XP 34.73%
Windows 7 Ultimate 26.35%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 11.38%
Windows 7 Professional 8.38%
Windows 7 Home Premium 6.59%
Windows Seven Black Editi... 2.40%

Distribution by countryGeography

16.57% of installs come from DZ
Which countries install it?
  DZ 16.57%
  United States 9.47%
  Germany 8.88%
  France 5.33%
  United Kingdom 5.33%
  BD 4.73%
  Italy 4.14%
  MA 2.96%
  India 2.96%
  Egypt 2.96%
  Argentina 1.78%
  Ireland 1.78%
  Poland 1.78%
  BG 1.78%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Dell 22.86%
Hewlett-Packard 20.95%
Acer 13.33%
American Megatrends 11.43%
GIGABYTE 5.71%
ASUS 5.71%
Sony 4.76%
Intel 4.76%
Sahara 2.86%
Samsung 2.86%
Lenovo 1.90%
Toshiba 1.90%
Common models
ASUSTeK 1005HA 6.31%
HP Pavilion dv5 Notebook ... 3.60%
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 2.70%
Dell Dell System Vostro... 1.80%
TOSHIBA Satellite C660 1.80%
ASUSTeK 1000H 1.80%

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

commentsComments

user comment
No one has commented yet. Help others learn more about this software, share your comments.