MS, against my will, has remote access to the C:\ProgramData\Skype\ folder. How to stop it?

Question

Skype

The story is simple - in order to stop my Skype 6.18 from auto-updating to version 7.x, I tightened the access rights to the C:\ProgramData\Skype folder, where the Skype.msi distribution is loaded remotely. Specifically - for the user SYSTEM, which has full rights, set to read only. However, after some time, a new subfolder with the Skype.msi file appeared in this folder, as well as an Apps subfolder. Looks like there's still a hole somewhere. How can you shut it up? In a broader context - how do you completely stop Skype from auto-updating? It has long been known that using the "Turn off auto-update" option in the Skype settings does not turn anything off. My Windows version is 8.1.

Answer 1

This is not the first time I have to post my own answer to my own question.
So, an empty SkypeSetup.exe file, adding prohibiting commands to the hosts file, and simply disabling auto-update in the Skype settings did not help .
And the following helped (of course, in addition to the above) - deleting the C:\ProgramData\Skype folder, owned by the SYSTEM, which constantly uploads the distribution kit of the next version of Skype there, and creating its own folder in the same place with exactly the same name. I had to delete using Unlocker. After creation, using the rights of the creator-owner, I cleared the list of access rights to it from all others - CREATOR-OWNER, SYSTEM, Administrators, Users, Guests, leaving only myself.
For a couple of weeks now, this folder has been empty, the next Skype.msi has ceased to appear in it. Accordingly, my Skype 6.18 does not make the slightest attempt to update itself.

Answer 2

It seems that the business version does not update itself. At least, I had to do this through the distribution of fresh msi through policies.

Answer 3

So that Skype is not updated, it is enough to create an empty SkypeSetup.exe file at the user's pace and prohibit all write access to it ( habrahabr.ru/post/246709/). I myself use 6.21 and do not update.