84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
5% remove it95% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #10,125
Reach 0.0355%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 76.37 days
602.70 days >
Average installed length: 316.67 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
6.3.107 38.63%
6.3.105 59.37%
6.3.20 0.86%
6.3.12 1.00%
6.3.9 0.14%

Typically installed together

Skype 6.3

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.

Overview

The most used version is 6.3.105, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. 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. The main program executable is skype.exe. It also adds an icon to the Windows notifications area in order to provide access to the program. The software installer includes 64 files and is usually about 18.03 MB (18,907,306 bytes). Updater.dll is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.3.0.105/ja/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: 18.03 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 6.3

Program executable:skype.exe
Name:Skype
Skype
Signed by:Skype Technologies SA
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:7e4ad8220af0b281274f9785dd53e25c
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:
  • SkypeBrowserOptions.dll - Skye plug-in settings dialog (Skype plug-in settings dialog)
  • NameParserComponent.dll - Skype name parser component
  • SkypeIEPluginBroker.exe - Skype broker for IE add-on
  • SkypePnr.dll - Skype Phone number parser
  • skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call (Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer)
  • NameParserComponent2.dll - Skype Toolbars
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
  • Updater.dll - Skype (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 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 '{3EF30E26-4056-47E9-9B06-14774B0CF8BB}' (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 'SkypeM' and executes as "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\SkypeM.exe" /minimized /regrun.
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.
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
  • Skype.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\SkypeM.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

skype.exe
Memory:104.88 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0018596403%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00095930%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00090034%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:20,721,226
8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:165
70 average
I/O reads/min:36.2 KB
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:25.76 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) 6.3, 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 6.3 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%
 
HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
 
USER ACTIONS
Uninstall it 5%
Keep it 95%

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 73.82%
Windows XP 14.16%
Windows 10 8.15%
Windows Vista 3.72%
Windows Server 2003 0.14%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 36.89%
Windows 7 Ultimate 17.87%
Windows 7 Professional 14.41%
Microsoft Windows XP 14.12%
Windows 7 Enterprise 3.60%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 3.17%

Distribution by countryGeography

45.31% of installs come from Taiwan
Which countries install it?
  Taiwan 45.31%
  Japan 30.79%
  Hong Kong 8.36%
  Thailand 5.57%
  United States 3.37%
  China 1.32%
  Malaysia 1.03%
  Canada 0.73%
  Macau 0.59%
  Singapore 0.44%
  United Kingdom 0.44%
  Australia 0.29%
  Indonesia 0.29%
  Italy 0.29%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Acer 21.61%
ASUS 20.75%
Dell 16.43%
GIGABYTE 10.37%
Hewlett-Packard 9.80%
Lenovo 5.76%
NEC 5.19%
Toshiba 5.19%
Intel 2.59%
American Megatrends 1.44%
MSI 0.86%
Common models
ThirdWave Corporation Pri... 5.68%
ASUSTeK K53SV 3.41%
ASUSTeK K42Jv 2.27%
Gigabyte G31M-ES2L 2.27%
ASUSTeK K45VM 1.70%
ASUSTeK K43SV 1.70%

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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