Control Skype updates and reducing traffic
Post ReplyControl Skype updates and reduce trafficPosted: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 [04:06:25] - 1
Since Micro$soft bought Skype, service quality is going down steady and fast. One of the reasons is high traffic associated with Skype update procedure. Even if "Always keep Skype up to date" is not checked - according to "best Micro$oft practice" Skype still checks for updates. How often does it check I am not sure but I have decided to track the server it connects to check for updates and it happens to be: ui.skype.com So I decided to use /etc/hosts to deny the access: ::1 ui.skype.com In four weeks of editing hosts file my Skype experience changed for better especially when other party I am communicating with did the same on his end (he uses Mac too). Skype is unaware of a new available software and hopefully it can stay on a version that works. My idea of using software is: "If it aint' broke - don't fix it". To see how to use /etc/hosts see my other post at: http://www.codemacs.com/macosx/lion/mac-os-x-lion-and-mountain-lion--etc-hosts-file-to-block-sites.3041521.htm I also checked - new Skype version can be manually downloaded from their website and installed. |
RE: Control Skype updates and reduce trafficPosted: Wednesday, October 29, 2014 [04:23:22] - 2
Here is a small Applescript to write/update /etc/hosts file: set fdata to do shell script "echo " & "|perl -n -e 'open(F,\"</etc/hosts\");while(<F>){s/\\r|\\n//g;s/(\\n|\\r|\\x0d)//g;print\"$_\\n\";}close(F);'" --display dialog fdata if fdata contains "skype" then else -- you can add more domains to block below 127.0.0.1 ui.skype.com ::1 ui.skype.com " end if -- if skype word not present in /etc/hosts file Script will automatically fire-up the Terminal for you and edit the hosts file. Although it will edit it if no word "Skype" found in /etc/hosts file. Script will ask for your password twice. Sorry. It is dirty but it works. I wrote it for my buddy as he is scared of Terminal. |