Stop Forced Skype Upgrade

[townsbg]

I've been using Skype 7 for a while now however starting today when I open Skype it closes and I get a message that I have to update. The only options are to update or close. Does anyone know a way around this? I've tried deleting the download in temp. I've read about copying the version 7 download in the temp folder, renaming it to SkypeSetup.exe, and setting it as read only but that doesn't work. I tried a blank file called SkypeSetup.exe however that didn't work. Skype updater service is disabled. I found a task in task manager called skypeSetupLight and disabled that but no joy. Anyone know of any way to stop this?

 

[MourningStar]

I've been using Skype 7 for a while now however starting today when I open Skype it closes and I get a message that I have to update. The only options are to update or close. ...

Why not update? This behavior could be Skype's way of protecting the user base from a newly discovered security breach.

 

[Alejandro85]

Most likely what you're seeing is a desperate MS attempt to make all users to downgrade to Skype 8. Skype 7 was anounced to be "discontinued" at some point, and many people was forced to download the new one, as the old version simply stoped working (without any real reason behind it, other than "programmed obsolecense").

I'm not aware of any way of keeping version 7 running, as it refuses to run, presumably on MS command. The trick of using a fake SkypeSetup.exe served well to prevent updating from minor versions of 7, but for 8 it no longer uses the same, so it won't work.

I'm afraid that the only way it to downgrade to Skype 8, or, even better, leave Skype altogether.

Why not update? This behavior could be Skype's way of protecting the user base from a newly discovered security breach.

Why not? The most important reason is that the new version is much worse than the previous one, in so many senses. The security excuse is frequently cited to be the cause of forced updates, but there is little evidense of actually being true. Even then, even if there's a brutal security problem, it's the user's decision wheater to install the new one or not, not the developer, plain and simple.

And we all know that Microsoft doesn't cares about security, but is obsesed to treat every single program as if it was running on a tablet, depriving of important features in the process. Skype 8 is one of the greatest examples of such thing.

 

[townsbg]

The forced downgrade is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. There are a lot of people all up in arms over v8. I'm using the web version now but it's telling me they are stopping support of that as well except on Chrome and Edge. I'm going to censor my thoughts over that. At least SRWare Iron fooled that.