Privacy & Security Concerns

When you install Messenger Plus! Live, several files are copied to your computer. All the files placed in "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! Live" have either been developed by ourselves (all the files that are signed) or come from third parties that have been carefully reviewed. For those who choose to give their support by installing the optional sponsor program, the sponsor's uninstallation program is copied in "C:\Program Files\Circle Developement" and is only used to uninstall the sponsor. Messenger Plus! Live does not install any system wide hook and keeps user related files in "Documents & Settings".

No, there is no way Messenger Plus! could have any security flaw that would let non-allowed software to connect on your computer. The reason is quite simple: Messenger Plus! does not directly open any network port on your machine, the only exception being the External Mail feature that connects to the mail server of your choice. Every other feature of Messenger Plus! that uses your internet connection goes through normal http requests sent by the Wininet library of Windows.

It is important to note however that nothing prevents scripts installed in Messenger Plus! Live to use your internet connection in any way they want. Most scripts tend to be harmless but make sure you do not install anything coming from a non trusted source. In case of doubt, post on the forum and ask about a given script you're interested in. Also, make sure to always use a firewall capable of alerting you when a connection to an unknown site is being attempted. Messenger Plus! Live itself never connects to anything else but *.msgpluslive.net and *.msgpluslive-update.net.

Messenger Plus! Live comes with an optional sponsor program that you can decide to install or not during setup (the same setup is always run, whether it's downloaded from the site or by the auto-update feature of Messenger Plus!, you will always be prompted the same way). This program shows ads from time to time on your computer and can be uninstalled without hassle in seconds. In NO case is the sponsor mandatory or dangerous.

Unfortunately, some of the anti-adware/spyware products distributed nowadays don't care to make a difference between a clean adware solution and a nasty spyware. As a result, users who want to give their support by installing the sponsor sometimes get scared by alarming warnings coming from their anti-adware/spyware product. In addition to displaying false information to their users, these products can also, in some occasions, damage the installation package of the sponsor, preventing further removal. This is why warnings related to Messenger Plus! should be ignored and the proper procedure be followed (see below). In case of doubt, remember that Messenger Plus! has been on the market since 2001, longer than many of the detection software you see nowadays. Millions of people are using it daily, proving without the shadow of a doubt that the program is reliable and can be trusted.

To uninstall the sponsor, simply go in "Add/Remove Programs" (Windows XP) or "Programs and Features" (Windows Vista), select "Messenger Plus! Live & Sponsor" and follow the instructions. You will be given the choice of uninstalling the sponsor only (if you still want to keep Messenger Plus! without the ads) or everything altogether. Note that if the software is listed as "Messenger Plus! Live" only or if the uninstaller informs you that the sponsor is indeed not installed, it means that the sponsor is indeed not currently running on your computer and that the advertisements you may be seeing are coming from something else installed in your system.

If the sponsor was installed but damaged by a third party program, the uninstaller will inform you of the problem. In that case, the easiest procedure is generally to disable your anti-adware/spyware, reinstall Messenger Plus! Live with its sponsor and launch the uninstaller again, this will ensure that nothing interferes with the proper uninstallation of the program. When launched, the sponsor's uninstaller will simply ask you to confirm the number displayed on screen and will then proceed with the uninstallation. You can then re-enable your anti-adware/spyware and contact its distributor about the problem you experienced caused by its improper removal of the Messenger Plus!'s files.