MessengerSpot is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) belonging to the Adware family. Adware is short for ‘ad supported’ software. Additionally, some malicious software has adware built into the program. Adware software presents unwanted ads that appear in pop ups or sponsored links on browser. In order to show unwanted adverts as often as possible adware software can modify your browser settings. You may even find that your MAC system settings are replaced without your knowledge. The makers of adware do so in order to generate profit via third-party ad network. Thus every your click on the adverts makes revenue for them.
Unwanted ads
Even worse, the MessengerSpot adware be able to collect a wide variety of privacy info that can be later sold to third party companies. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
Threat Summary
| Name | MessengerSpot, Messenger Spot 1.0 app |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted application (PUA), popup virus, pop-ups, pop-up advertisements |
| Symptoms |
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| Removal | MessengerSpot removal guide |
How does the MessengerSpot adware get on your MAC
Most often, adware come bundled with the setup files from a free hosting and file sharing web-sites. So, install a free applications is a a good chance that you will find a bundled adware. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the installation, select the Custom or Advanced setup type. Next, click ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install third-party programs. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any software or otherwise you can end up with another unwanted program on your MAC like this adware.
Adware software is usually written in ways common to malicious software, spyware and browser hijacker infections. In order to remove the MessengerSpot adware software and thus get rid of unwanted ads, you will need perform the steps below or use free adware removal utility listed below.
How to remove MessengerSpot
To delete MessengerSpot adware software from your computer, you must remove all suspicious programs and every file that could be related to the adware software. Besides, to fix your internet browser new tab, homepage and search provider by default, you should reset the hijacked browsers. As soon as you are done with MessengerSpot adware removal procedure, we recommend you scan your MAC system with malicious software removal utilities listed below. It will complete the removal procedure on your Apple Mac.
To remove MessengerSpot, use the steps below:
- Manual MessengerSpot removal
- Automatic Removal of MessengerSpot adware software
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
Manual MessengerSpot removal
The step-by-step guidance made by our team will allow you manually delete MessengerSpot from the MAC. If you are not good at computers, we advise that you use the free utilities listed below.
Remove MessengerSpot related software through the Finder
First, you should try to identify and uninstall the application that causes the appearance of undesired ads or browser redirect, using the ‘Applications’ list that located in the Finder.
Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other programs. Next, uninstall any unwanted and suspicious programs from MAC system using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your Apple Mac. Most likely, one of them is the MessengerSpot adware. Select the questionable program or the program that name is not familiar to you and uninstall it.
Drag the questionable application from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Delete MessengerSpot from Safari
The Safari reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked by MessengerSpot or you have unwanted add-ons or toolbars on your web browser, which installed by an malicious software.
Click Safari menu and choose “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious plugins on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to delete all unknown extensions from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Get rid of MessengerSpot from Firefox by resetting browser settings
If the Firefox web browser is affected by MessengerSpot and you want to recover the Mozilla Firefox settings back to their original settings, then you should follow the guide below. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
Start the Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web-browser screen. Next, press the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Mozilla Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the MessengerSpot adware. After, it is finished, press the “Finish” button.
Remove MessengerSpot adware from Chrome
Run the Reset web browser tool of the Chrome to reset all its settings like new tab page, search engine and homepage to original defaults. This is a very useful tool to use, in the case of adware infection.
First launch the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will display the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The browser will show the settings screen. Another solution to open the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, like the one below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Chrome will open the confirmation dialog box like below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will run the task of cleaning. When it’s complete, the web-browser’s settings including startpage, newtab page and default search engine back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Automatic Removal of MessengerSpot adware software
The adware may hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and get rid of completely. This can lead to the fact that after some time, the MessengerSpot adware software again infect your computer. Moreover, We want to note that it is not always safe to remove adware manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the operating system. The best solution to search for and delete adware is to run free malware removal software.
How to delete MessengerSpot with MalwareBytes Free
If you are still having issues with the MessengerSpot adware removal or just wish to scan your MAC occasionally for adware software and other malware, then download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM). It is free for home use, and scans for and removes various undesired software that attacks your Apple Mac or degrades MAC system performance. MalwareBytes can remove hijacker, adware software, PUPs as well as malware, including ransomware and trojans.
Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
20988 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
After downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Click the “Scan” button for checking your Apple Mac for the MessengerSpot adware. Depending on your MAC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the utility is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned. All found items will be marked. You can remove them all by simply click “Remove Selected Items” button.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware is a free application that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, malicious services and so on.
How to stay safe online
Run ad blocker program such as AdGuard in order to stop ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install harmful and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your machine performance and impact your MAC OS security. Surf the Net anonymously and stay safe online!
- Download AdGuard from the following link.
AdGuard for Mac download
3772 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- When the downloading process is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- Once the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block harmful or misleading web sites.
To sum up
Now your computer should be free of the MessengerSpot adware. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-ups and unwanted harmful web-pages) and MalwareBytes (to periodically scan your machine for new malicious software, hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful apps and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove MessengerSpot ads from your internet browser, then ask for help here.
