What is MessengerNow?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that MessengerNow is a potentially unwanted program that behaves like adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
How do I know if my computer is affected by MessengerNow?
You may see these warnings during install:




and this entry in your list of installed Programs and Features:

How did MessengerNow get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from an advertising website:

How do I remove MessengerNow?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes MessengerNow completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this adware.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the MessengerNow adware. It would have blocked the installer before it became too late.
and it blocks traffic to their domains:
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
(MessengerNow -> ) [File not signed] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\MessengerNow.exe HKLM-x32\...\Run: [MessengerNow] => C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\MessengerNow.exe [47905616 2019-06-10] (MessengerNow -> ) [File not signed] <==== ATTENTION C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\MessengerNow.lnk C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\MessengerNow C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow MessengerNow - Facebook Messenger for Desktop (HKLM-x32\...\MessengerNow) (Version: 14.1906.1ac - MessengerNow) (MessengerNow -> Google Inc.) [File not signed] C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\ffmpegsumo.dllSignificant changes made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow Adds the file cookies"="7/23/2019 9:20 AM, 6144 bytes, A Adds the file cookies-journal"="7/23/2019 9:20 AM, 4640 bytes, A Adds the file lockfile"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 0 bytes, A Adds the file QuotaManager"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 13312 bytes, A Adds the file QuotaManager-journal"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 8768 bytes, A Adds the file Web Data"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 40960 bytes, A Adds the file Web Data-journal"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 512 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache Adds the file index"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 24 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\index-dir Adds the file the-real-index"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 44 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases Adds the file Databases.db"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 7168 bytes, A Adds the file Databases.db-journal"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 5672 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases\file__0 Adds the file 1"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 4096 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Local Storage Adds the file file__0.localstorage"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 3072 bytes, A Adds the file file__0.localstorage-journal"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 3608 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow Adds the file ffmpegsumo.dll"="6/10/2019 1:56 PM, 1652840 bytes, A Adds the file icudtl.dat"="6/10/2019 1:46 PM, 10457856 bytes, A Adds the file MessengerNow.exe"="6/10/2019 1:56 PM, 47905616 bytes, A Adds the file nw.pak"="6/10/2019 1:46 PM, 7481810 bytes, A Adds the file storage.json"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 83 bytes, A Adds the file Uninstall.exe"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 472523 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\locales In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar Adds the file MessengerNow.lnk"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 947 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\MessengerNow Adds the file MessengerNow.lnk"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 1905 bytes, A Adds the file Uninstall.lnk"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 1884 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\Desktop Adds the file MessengerNow.lnk"="7/23/2019 9:19 AM, 995 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "MessengerNow"="REG_SZ", "C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\MessengerNow.exe su" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MessengerNow] "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\Uninstall.exe"" "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "MessengerNow - Facebook Messenger for Desktop" "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "14.1906.1ac" "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 65916 "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "MessengerNow" "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\MessengerNow\Uninstall.exe"" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\MessengerNow] "uid"="REG_SZ", "328D473C-5466-4493-823E-60AA58F7DD0C"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 7/23/19 Scan Time: 9:26 AM Log File: 3a22a9be-ad1b-11e9-9619-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.586 Update Package Version: 1.0.11680 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236878 Threats Detected: 72 Threats Quarantined: 72 Time Elapsed: 7 min, 0 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 3 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 Module: 3 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 Registry Key: 2 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, HKCU\SOFTWARE\APPDATALOW\SOFTWARE\MessengerNow, Quarantined, [1230], [710655],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\MessengerNow, Quarantined, [1230], [710653],1.0.11680 Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|MESSENGERNOW, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 6 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases\file__0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\index-dir, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Local Storage, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\MESSENGERNOW, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 File: 57 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\index-dir\the-real-index, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\07730ced5e0a88d0_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\0f77b7b90b3e5573_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\1c2d0c15c242cb58_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\25313771bc5938c9_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\268a109cb39eb34e_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\2bd67ddba7e67238_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\2cd9794f52e24e4f_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\2df02be6dafbc6aa_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\35f3137a35efe120_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\3b85cbe9531df329_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\44d4eddb5f25060a_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\79316414c1a3d6d7_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\79c6582ae9c4dcbb_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\7a4f755cf9c7809f_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\7e3cdd1d75f89fbe_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\8313106e6b78138f_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\867eeb85f85ca729_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\945fac70812eb6d4_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\9b055dd30faa669b_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\9d74aa3fa89af1dc_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\b748772023eea3c7_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\bc141ccc77e7908f_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\c0e88843241c4b64_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\d362fe4736f6b584_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\e098fd214316abfd_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\f8e368babf74f062_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\index, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\45e8a7b3a9a39630_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\46a6fa395fd9530d_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\4c145cce1bf3ad79_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\4e79165120b5c1d3_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\5a44dbe39b1a358c_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\5e721eec36958a68_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\5ec195c554dc9470_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\607a6def203836f6_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\65335d8cc46b3c65_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\65b667c2d500d645_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\6787f2ca849a4301_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Cache\776f48ba52abc5c9_0, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases\file__0\1, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases\Databases.db, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\databases\Databases.db-journal, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Local Storage\file__0.localstorage, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Local Storage\file__0.localstorage-journal, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\cookies, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\cookies-journal, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\lockfile, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\QuotaManager, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\QuotaManager-journal, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Web Data, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\MessengerNow\Web Data-journal, Quarantined, [1230], [710651],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\MESSENGERNOW.LNK, Quarantined, [1230], [710652],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\MESSENGERNOW.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\QUICK LAUNCH\User Pinned\TaskBar\MessengerNow.lnk, Quarantined, [1230], [710654],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MESSENGERNOW\UNINSTALL.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710656],1.0.11680 PUP.Optional.MessengerTime, C:\USERS\{username}\DESKTOP\MESSENGERNOW.14.1906.1AC.EXE, Quarantined, [1230], [710656],1.0.11680 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention