[Update] Skype installs EasyBits Go CrapWare on your systems without users’ prior knowledge
Posted by Bradley Wint on 28/05/2011
It seems that Skype is automatically installing crapware called EasyBits Go without informing or asking users for installation permission.
This morning I was notified that Skype needed third-party access to an executable called easybitsgo.exe, and I was quite suspicious because I knew I had not installed in applications recently and saw no other dialog boxes with information about this app. I did a virus scan immediately thinking my system may have been over-ridden with malware similar to those fake anti-virus apps.
It turns out the program is legit and was actually installed via Skype itself. After doing a quick check , it seems the EasyBits company produces a number of game apps and is supported by many major brands including HP, Dell, Acer and Skype among others, however I did not give a care since I was not interested in having such program installed on my machine. Finally, after checking the Skype forums, it turns out many users reported a similar circumstance.
Can such a move be allowed? Not in my opinion at least. It violates our rights by installing programs without our prior knowledge. If I were clueless, I could have been setting up my computer and myself for disaster, because the program could have been a sniffing tool or used as part of a botnet (just giving worst case scenarios). For such a reputable company like Skype, it really is a shame that they went ahead with such a plan, and I do hope it was more of an accident than intentional.
If you would like to get rid of the installation:
- Disable and remove 3rd party access to the easybitgo.exe file in Skype via Options > Advanced > Advanced Settings > Manage other programs’ access to Skype
- Remove the Easybits Go program via the Install/Uninstall panel under your system’s control panel
- Exit Skype and make sure the Skype.exe is not running in the list of running processes (via Task Manager). Also temporarily disable Skype from starting automatically when Windows starts.
- Then restart your computer since the program will still be is use by the system.
- Once restarted, go to [Drive Letter]:ProgramData or [Drive Letter]:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication Data and permanently delete theEasybits GO folder.
- Remove whatever shortcuts it may have placed in the start menu and desktop.
- If you are confident enough to dig around in your registry, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware and delete the entire EasyBits folder (thanks Christopher)
- Go to the WindowsPrefetch directory and look for the file EASYBITSGO.EXE-364DAFD6.pf and delete it. Also do a search for ezPMUtils.dll and delete them all.
- If you are on Windows 7, delete the go folder in this directory – Users > [YOUR USERNAME] >AppData > Roaming (thanks Lesa)
We are hoping that Skype can make a formal announcement about the problem, to possibly explain why they allowed this to happen in the first place.
Update – Skype has acknowledged the situation but has yet to release a statement about what is going on.
Update #2 – Corrected info about affiliated brands.
Update #3 – Added more removal tips.
Update #4 [29th May 2011 – 7:24pm EST] – Skype finally responds:
All fears can be put to rest now regarding malware concerns.
It has come to our attention that concerns have been expressed from Skype users over the update delivered to Skype Extras for Windows by Easybits software.
The software is provided by our partner EasyBits, and is part of the Skype Extras Manager. The Extras Manager has been included in Windows releases of our software since 2006. This latest update from EasyBits included elements of their desktop games organizer in error, but it neither installs nor un-installs correctly. This update has been disabled while we work with them to correct the problems and user experience.
Skype works closely with its partners to ensure that our users receive the best possible Skype experience and is working with EasyBits to ensure this issue does not happen again.
Now we just hold on for another update regarding the official removal of the software.
Thanks Dlkfajdlfkjd.
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