Skype for Windows gets a klap
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011I run Skype on mac systems which is quite a useful thing to do – because since Windows bought Skype – suddenly what’s known as crapware appeared on Skype’s application aimed specifically at Windows users.
The cool $8.5bn has to be recouped and the usual Microsoft marketing technique kicked into gear. Access machines running Windows and Skype, and when you upload a new version of the online phone system, you get an application you don’t want attached to it.
It’s called EasyBits Go and when poor ‘ol PC users upload Skype, it installs the .exe straight into your computer.
Download Skype for Windows ?? Nope. Don't think so
And if you don’t want it? Tough. You have to run it. That has, lets say, peeved the online community to levels of seethe
One example :
“what the hell is going on today? I received a pop-upmessage in Skype with a question if I want to install some games. I closed this window with X. After some time I got another message in Skype – “EasyBitsGo.exe wants to use Skype”. What is Easy Bits Go? I closed this window again. When I went to computer’s control panel, I discovered a program Easybits which I never have installed. I uninstalled this program from control panel but when I went to C:/ Program Files I discovered a folder “Easy Bits” with today’s date. I had to remove this folder manually.’
How to win friends indeed.
But if you have a Mac, don’t worry. Skype can’t automatically load .exe’s into your system.
Apparently Skype has now quickly removed EasyBits download from its systems while it figures out how such bad code was allowed to load onto its Windows programs in the first place.
Maybe providing MSN with proof of dosh it made recently as it goes through the final stages of its sale was a motivator? Nothing quite like greed and online combining to ruin a brand in one day.
