Removing Windows Messenger Extra Button

This section provides a tutorial example on how to remove Windows Messenger extra button.

Symptom: When Windows Messenger is installed on your computer, an extra button shows up on your IE browser as shown in this picture:

IE Add-on - Windows Messenger Extra Button
IE Add-on - Windows Messenger Extra Button

Windows Messenger button offers you a quick way to log into Windows Messenger chat service. However, it does take away space from your standard buttons area. I want to remove it.

IE Add-ons List: Click IE Tools > Manage Add-ons, I saw:

Windows Messenger   Browser Extension

HijackThis Report: In the HijackThis report, there are actually two entries related to Windows Messenger: an extra button and an extra menu item:

O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683}
   - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d...
   - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe

Quick Research: Windows Messenger is a proprietary instant messaging client included in Microsoft's Windows XP operating system. Windows Messenger has been superseded by Office Communicator in corporate environments and Windows Live Messenger for .NET Messenger Service connections. I want to remove it, because I like the Web version of Yahoo! Messenger.

What I Did:

1. Run IE and click Tools > Manage Add-on, and disabled "Windows Messenger".

2. Run HijackThis, select those two Windows Messenger entries, and click "Fix checked"

Result: Windows Messenger extra button is gone!

Table of Contents

 About This Windows Security Book

 Windows 8: System Security Review

 Windows 8: System Security Protection

 Windows 8 System Recovery

 Windows 8 Defender for Real-Time Protection

 Windows 7: System Security Review

 Windows 7: System Security Protection

 Windows 7 System Recovery

 Windows 7 Forefront Client Security

 Norton Power Eraser - Anti-Virus Scan Tool

 McAfee Virus and Malware Protection Tools

 Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 Keeping Firefox Secure

 Keeping IE (Internet Explorer) Secure

 Malware (Adware, Spyware, Trojan, Worm, and Virus)

 HijackThis - Browser Hijacker Diagnosis Tool

IE Add-on Program Listing and Removal

 What Is an IE Add-on?

 List of IE Add-on Programs

 Removing Google Toolbar

 Removing Yahoo! IE Services Button - yiesrvc.dll

 Removing MySearch Toolbar - S4BAR.DLL

 Removing NetZero Toolbar - Toolbar.dll

Removing Windows Messenger Extra Button

 "Conduit Search" - Malware Detection and Removal

 "Tube Dimmer", "Scorpion Saver" or "Adpeak" Malware

 Malware Manual Removal Experience

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 PWS (Password Stealer) Trojan Infection Removal

 MS08-001 Vulnerability on Windows Systems

 Antivirus System PRO

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB