WARNING! MessengerPlus is now SpyWare

[John Hightower]

The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for several
spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all search
functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't get rid
of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the search
function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with this for
over an hour.

There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the newest
version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what gets
installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for years,
but I feel screwed by him completely.

--
Thanks,
John

[Thor Henning Wegener]

"John Hightower" > wrote in message
...
> The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for several
> spyware programs.

Is this a plugin for Windows Messenger?
--
Thor Henning Wegener

http://home.online.no/~wegener

[John Hightower]

It's a program that adds some things like logging, etc. to it.


"Thor Henning Wegener" > wrote in message
...
> "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
several
> > spyware programs.
>
> Is this a plugin for Windows Messenger?
> --
> Thor Henning Wegener
>
> http://home.online.no/~wegener
>
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings John,

Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
(just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')

However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried using AdAware to
remove it?
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"John Hightower" > wrote in message
...
> The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for several
> spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all search
> functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't get rid
> of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the search
> function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with this for
> over an hour.
>
> There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the newest
> version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what gets
> installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for years,
> but I feel screwed by him completely.
>
> --
> Thanks,
> John
>
>

[John Hightower]

I tried Ad Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy, and finally got the uninstall
program from a guy on the MessengerPlus chat. He knew exactly what I meant
when I wrote "spyware." :-)

Can't find the option to not install unless you choose Custom Install; how
many people do that? And even then, if you install by mistake you're just
SOL. It took me hacking the registry to get my search functions back.

Uninstalling MessengerPlus should, but doesn't, remove all the stuff. In
fact, I found one even hides on Add or Remove Programs as an "Internet
Explorer Update". Nefarious little buggers. LOL


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings John,
>
> Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')
>
> However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried
using AdAware to
> remove it?
> http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
several
> > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all search
> > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't get
rid
> > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the
search
> > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with this
for
> > over an hour.
> >
> > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the newest
> > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what gets
> > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for
years,
> > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > John
> >
> >
>
>

[John Hightower]

http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe

BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else makes
the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back like it
says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff afterwards, by
hand.


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings John,
>
> Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')
>
> However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried
using AdAware to
> remove it?
> http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
several
> > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all search
> > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't get
rid
> > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the
search
> > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with this
for
> > over an hour.
> >
> > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the newest
> > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what gets
> > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for
years,
> > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > John
> >
> >
>
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi John,

Did your nickname happen to be jmx? =)
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"John Hightower" > wrote in message
...
> http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe
>
> BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else makes
> the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back like it
> says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff afterwards, by
> hand.
>
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Greetings John,
> >
> > Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> > (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')
> >
> > However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried
> using AdAware to
> > remove it?
> > http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> > ____________________________________________
> > Jonathan Kay
> > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >
> > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
> several
> > > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all search
> > > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't get
> rid
> > > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the
> search
> > > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with this
> for
> > > over an hour.
> > >
> > > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the newest
> > > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what gets
> > > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for
> years,
> > > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Thanks,
> > > John
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[John Hightower]

Yep. :-)

You guys're friends, huh?

Or was it you who sent it to me? :-)

BTW, been using your site for awhile and recommended it to some of my
friends. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Hi John,
>
> Did your nickname happen to be jmx? =)
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> ...
> > http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe
> >
> > BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else
makes
> > the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back like it
> > says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff afterwards,
by
> > hand.
> >
> >
> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Greetings John,
> > >
> > > Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> > > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> > > (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')
> > >
> > > However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried
> > using AdAware to
> > > remove it?
> > > http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> > > ____________________________________________
> > > Jonathan Kay
> > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > Associate Expert
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > >
> > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
> > several
> > > > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all
search
> > > > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't
get
> > rid
> > > > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the
> > search
> > > > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with
this
> > for
> > > > over an hour.
> > > >
> > > > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the
newest
> > > > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what
gets
> > > > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for
> > years,
> > > > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > John
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi John,

No, it was "Shaun" that gave you it, but I was there (I just looked back in the log to see
who last mentioned spyware).

Glad to be of assistance =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"John Hightower" > wrote in message
...
> Yep. :-)
>
> You guys're friends, huh?
>
> Or was it you who sent it to me? :-)
>
> BTW, been using your site for awhile and recommended it to some of my
> friends. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
>
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi John,
> >
> > Did your nickname happen to be jmx? =)
> > ____________________________________________
> > Jonathan Kay
> > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >
> > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe
> > >
> > > BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else
> makes
> > > the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back like it
> > > says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff afterwards,
> by
> > > hand.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Greetings John,
> > > >
> > > > Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> > > > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> > > > (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger Plus!')
> > > >
> > > > However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you tried
> > > using AdAware to
> > > > remove it?
> > > > http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> > > > ____________________________________________
> > > > Jonathan Kay
> > > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > > Associate Expert
> > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > > >
> > > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container for
> > > several
> > > > > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks all
> search
> > > > > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus doesn't
> get
> > > rid
> > > > > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten the
> > > search
> > > > > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with
> this
> > > for
> > > > > over an hour.
> > > > >
> > > > > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the
> newest
> > > > > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what
> gets
> > > > > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software for
> > > years,
> > > > > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > John
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[John Hightower]

Well thank Shaun for me please. :-) I really appreciate it. :-)


"Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
...
> Hi John,
>
> No, it was "Shaun" that gave you it, but I was there (I just looked back
in the log to see
> who last mentioned spyware).
>
> Glad to be of assistance =).
> ____________________________________________
> Jonathan Kay
> Windows MVP, Messenger
> Associate Expert
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>
> "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Yep. :-)
> >
> > You guys're friends, huh?
> >
> > Or was it you who sent it to me? :-)
> >
> > BTW, been using your site for awhile and recommended it to some of my
> > friends. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
> >
> >
> > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi John,
> > >
> > > Did your nickname happen to be jmx? =)
> > > ____________________________________________
> > > Jonathan Kay
> > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > Associate Expert
> > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > >
> > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe
> > > >
> > > > BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else
> > makes
> > > > the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back
like it
> > > > says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff
afterwards,
> > by
> > > > hand.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in
message
> > > > ...
> > > > > Greetings John,
> > > > >
> > > > > Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> > > > > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> > > > > (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger
Plus!')
> > > > >
> > > > > However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you
tried
> > > > using AdAware to
> > > > > remove it?
> > > > > http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> > > > > ____________________________________________
> > > > > Jonathan Kay
> > > > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > > > Associate Expert
> > > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > > > >
> > > > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > > > ...
> > > > > > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container
for
> > > > several
> > > > > > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks
all
> > search
> > > > > > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus
doesn't
> > get
> > > > rid
> > > > > > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten
the
> > > > search
> > > > > > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with
> > this
> > > > for
> > > > > > over an hour.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the
> > newest
> > > > > > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what
> > gets
> > > > > > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software
for
> > > > years,
> > > > > > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > John
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi John,

Will do =).
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

"John Hightower" > wrote in message
...
> Well thank Shaun for me please. :-) I really appreciate it. :-)
>
>
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi John,
> >
> > No, it was "Shaun" that gave you it, but I was there (I just looked back
> in the log to see
> > who last mentioned spyware).
> >
> > Glad to be of assistance =).
> > ____________________________________________
> > Jonathan Kay
> > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > Associate Expert
> > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> >
> > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Yep. :-)
> > >
> > > You guys're friends, huh?
> > >
> > > Or was it you who sent it to me? :-)
> > >
> > > BTW, been using your site for awhile and recommended it to some of my
> > > friends. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Hi John,
> > > >
> > > > Did your nickname happen to be jmx? =)
> > > > ____________________________________________
> > > > Jonathan Kay
> > > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > > Associate Expert
> > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > > >
> > > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > http://lop.com/toolbar_uninstall.exe
> > > > >
> > > > > BTW, here's the uninstall thingie for it, just in case somebody else
> > > makes
> > > > > the mistake I did. But it doesn't change the search options back
> like it
> > > > > says it's supposed to. Have to mess around with that stuff
> afterwards,
> > > by
> > > > > hand.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" > wrote in
> message
> > > > > ...
> > > > > > Greetings John,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yes, the option to turn it off is right here:
> > > > > > http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/msgplus.gif
> > > > > > (just uncheck the 'i agree' before clicking 'Install Messenger
> Plus!')
> > > > > >
> > > > > > However, uninstalling Messenger Plus should remove it. Have you
> tried
> > > > > using AdAware to
> > > > > > remove it?
> > > > > > http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download
> > > > > > ____________________________________________
> > > > > > Jonathan Kay
> > > > > > Windows MVP, Messenger
> > > > > > Associate Expert
> > > > > > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
> > > > > > Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "John Hightower" > wrote in message
> > > > > > ...
> > > > > > > The latest version of MessengerPlus by Patchou is a container
> for
> > > > > several
> > > > > > > spyware programs, one of which installs a toolbar and hijacks
> all
> > > search
> > > > > > > functions for Internet Explorer. Uninstalling MessengerPlus
> doesn't
> > > get
> > > > > rid
> > > > > > > of them either. Not even System Restore will. I haven't gotten
> the
> > > > > search
> > > > > > > function back in the Address Bar yet. And I've been working with
> > > this
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > over an hour.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > There's supposedly an option not to install "sponsors" with the
> > > newest
> > > > > > > version, but it's not easily spotted and really doesn't say what
> > > gets
> > > > > > > installed anyway. I've been a loyal user of this guy's software
> for
> > > > > years,
> > > > > > > but I feel screwed by him completely.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > John
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>