Blocking programs that run without your permission (Windows 7)

In pure Microsoft tradition, the latest version of Skype comes stripped of the ability to turn off automatic updates (which always launch when you are trying to make a Skype call).

For entertainment, you can see the conversation on the Microsoft help forum.

Summarized, it goes like this:

User1 - We used to have the ability to turn off automatic updates on Skype. I don't see the option in the new Skype. Where is it?
MS - Our updates are so grand and important, and the will of the user of so little significance that we have eliminated that option. However, you can go here to download the older Skype.
User1 - Ah, OK, thanks.
User2 - I'm not falling for this. How long until the older Skype goes away entirely?
User3 - The link is already dead. Can you not treat us like idiots, please?
User4 - There is a way, you just need to hack into the OS, here is how.

Below I expand on what User4 posted (it's missing a few pieces, which I fill in).

1) Search for the command prompt and right click on it to launch as an administrator
2) At the command prompt, type: gpedit.msc
3) Hit enter and wait for the Local Group Policy window to launch (it may take a few seconds)

Local Group Policy Editor

4) In the left pane, navigate to Administrative Templates --> System. Click on System to view the items in that folder in the right panel.

The Local Group Policy Editor, with the System folder opened

5) Double click on "Don't run specified Windows applications (yours will likely say "Not configu..." instead of "Enabled"
6) Wait for a new window to launch. First thing on that new window, select "Enabled"

7) When you do that, the Show... button should activate. Click on it. Yet another window launches.

8) Yours will likely be blank. Click on the empty box with the asterisk next to it and type "SkypeSetup.exe". Supposedly, that kills Skype's automatic updates. I am also attempting to kill some annoying popups launched by the program CCleaner so I added that executable as well. You can add any programs that launch at the wrong time without your explicit permission to the list.

9) Click OK, then Apply and you can exit out of all this.