84,488,480 programs installed

Should I remove Skype?

What percent of users and experts removed it?
8% remove it92% keep it
Overall Sentiment
Good
What do people think about it?
(click star to rate)
How common is it?
Global Rank #117
United States Rank #158
Reach 3.8369%
Lifespan of installation (until removal)
< 30.96 days
913.39 days >
Average installed length: 479.92 days

Versions

VersionDistribution
6.11.102 100.00%

Typically installed together

Skype 6.11

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.

Overview

During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. 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. The setup package generally installs about 86 files and is usually about 19.92 MB (20,882,976 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.

Program detailsProgram details

URL: www.skype.com
Help link: ui.skype.com/ui/0/6.11.0.102/de/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: 19.92 MB
Language: English (United States)

Program filesFiles installed by Skype 6.11

Program executable:skype.exe
Name:Skype
Skype
Signed by:Microsoft Corporation
Path:C:\Program Files\skype\phone\skype.exe
MD5:58920e6a409046ba06548d9d139ce0f0
Additional files:
  • SkypeClicktoCall.exe - Skype Click to Call (Skype Click to Call installer)
  • skype4com.dll - Skype4COM (Skype for COM API)
  • Skype 4.1 Setup.exe - Skype
  • Skype Setup Full.exe
  • SkypeSetup.exe
  • SkypeSetup_4.1.0.179.exe
  • SkypeSetupFull.exe
  • 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
  • SPhoneParser.dll
  • skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer
  • NameParserComponent2.dll - Skype Toolbars
  • SkypeNames2.exe - SkypeNames
  • SkypeNames.exe - SkypeNames
  • Updater.dll - Skype Updater Library
  • Updater.exe - Skype Updater Service
  • skypePM.exe - Skype Extras Manager
  • Uninstall.exe
  • Удалить Skype.exe (by repachok.net) - Skype 6.0.0.126

Program behaviorsBehaviors exhibited

Context Menu Handler
  • Skype4COM.dll added to Windows Explorer under the name 'XXX Groove GFS Context Menu Handler XXX' with a class of .
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}.
Mozilla Plugin
  • Skype4COM.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'Office Authorization'.
Scheduled Task
  • Skype.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{EF5C82C9-A43A-4694-8D57-81F51C031C4B}' (runs on registration).
Scheduled Task (Boot/Login)
  • Skype.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named Skype @ Logon.
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.
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:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe'.

Program resource utilizationResource utilization averages

skype.exe
Memory:170.83 MB
21.09 MB average
Total CPU:0.0002478925%
0.031193% average
Kernel CPU:0.00012933%
0.016088% average
User CPU:0.00011856%
0.015104% average
CPU cycles/sec:8,519,859,869
8,062,084 average
Switches/sec:482
70 average
I/O reads/min:7.75 MB
435.61 KB average
I/O writes/min:18.14 MB
105.02 KB average
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™ 6.11, 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 6.11 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 8%
Keep it 92%
 
GLOBAL RANK
#117

Windows OS versionsWindows

Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows 7 76.59%
Windows 10 12.72%
Windows Vista 6.27%
Windows XP 4.40%
Windows Server 2003 0.02%
Which OS releases does it run on?
Windows 7 Home Premium 47.97%
Windows 7 Ultimate 12.95%
Windows 7 Professional 11.33%
Windows Vista Home Premiu... 4.93%
Microsoft Windows XP 4.33%
Windows 8.1 3.78%

Distribution by countryGeography

45.07% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
  United States 45.07%
  United Kingdom 5.75%
  France 4.80%
  Canada 4.04%
  Brazil 3.13%
  Italy 3.11%
  Germany 3.07%
  Australia 2.41%
  Netherlands 2.09%
  Belgium 1.46%
  Sweden 1.41%
  Spain 1.14%
  India 1.14%
  Israel 1.01%

OEM distributionPC manufacturers

What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard 29.49%
Dell 21.50%
Acer 18.05%
Toshiba 8.99%
ASUS 8.30%
Samsung 6.23%
GIGABYTE 3.94%
Lenovo 2.08%
Intel 0.88%
American Megatrends 0.55%
Common models
HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... 8.48%
HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... 7.07%
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... 5.42%
HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... 3.41%
Dell Inspiron N5110 3.30%
Dell Inspiron 1545 2.31%

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

comments1 comment

user comment
user comment
'oleladyatthemillover a year ago
Find the program very good. Does what it says on the box. I'm sure it is dependent on the amount of users at a given time as to how clear a picture you get. For me it has been fine and would recommend it to anyone.