>>If you previously weren't a True Believer about backup, you probably are now ;)
>
>I have now everything installed (or almost everything), I made an Image Backup and installed Skype again from the Skype.com I did notice a difference in installation and this time it was OK and it didn't attempt to install anything else besides Skype (except for also wanting to install MSN and Bing but I opted out).
>
>So, I am positive now that originally I got it from some malicious site which, unfortunately, is one of the top google links.


As to the recent Skype install - you may want to see this http://community.skype.com/t5/Windows-desktop-client/Skype-is-slow-and-freezes/m-p/2373007/highlight/true#M213824