Remove the Delete Facebook Messages browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Delete Facebook Messages?
The Delete Facebook Messages app supposedly allows users to archive and/or delete Facebook messages. In fact, this is a browser hijacker that changes browser settings (thereby promoting a dubious website) and gathers details relating to users' browsing habits.
Most people do not download or install these apps intentionally and they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
After installation, Delete Facebook Messages assigns browser settings such as homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL to dfbmsgs.com. Typically, these apps can be installed on the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer browsers.
When Delete Facebook Messages is installed on a browser, it forces users to visit dfbmsgs.com when they open the browser, a new tab, or search via the URL bar. When a search query is entered, dfbmsgs.com opens bing.com and displays results from this site. Therefore, dfbmsgs.com is a fake search engine and provides no unique results.
Most browser hijackers do not allow users to undo or change the settings - they must first uninstall the rogue app (in this case, Delete Facebook Messages). Furthermore, browser hijackers and their associated fake search engines collect data such as IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited sites, entered search queries, etc.
PUAs and fake search engines also gather personal details. Developers share the information with other parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. This can lead to problems with online privacy, browsing safety, and so on.
| Name | Delete Facebook Messages |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Delete Facebook Messages |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly archives and deletes Facebook messages. |
| Promoted URL | dfbmsgs.com |
| Detection Names (dfbmsgs.com) | Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (dfbmsgs.com) | 63.34.199.190 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
MyOfficeX, Your Free Online Manuals, and Get Easy Templates Pro are just some examples of other apps that are categorized as PUAs, as well as browser hijackers. Generally, people install them unintentionally and are unaware of the possible effects. Developers often present PUAs as useful, however, they are simply used to gather data and advertise dubious web pages, fake search engines, etc.
How did Delete Facebook Messages install on my computer?
Some PUAs can be downloaded from their own download pages, however, people usually download and install them unintentionally. This often happens when these apps are added to download or installation set-ups of other software. This marketing method is called "bundling".
Developers use bundling to trick people into downloading and installing PUAs with regular programs. Information regarding the inclusion of these additionally-included apps can usually be found in setup options such as "Custom"," Advanced", and so on.
Not all people check or change these settings - this allows PUAs to be downloaded and installed with regular software by default. In other cases, users cause unintentional downloads and installations when they click deceptive ads. If clicked, these can run scripts that lead to download and installation of potentially unwanted applications.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download software from official, trustworthy sources (websites), and avoid using third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, and other such tools/channels. Check all available "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of any download or installation setup.
Deselect offers to download/install unwanted software before completing the setup. Bear in mind that intrusive ads, once clicked, often redirect to potentially malicious websites. Typically, they are displayed on dubious pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.
If deceptive ads appear regularly or the browser causes opens dubious web pages, remove all suspicious or unwanted apps (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) from the browser and programs from the operating system.
If your computer is already infected with Delete Facebook Messages, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
dfbmsgs.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Website promoting Delete Facebook Messages browser hijacker:
Screenshot of Delete Facebook Messages download page asking for various permissions:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Delete Facebook Messages?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Delete Facebook Messages application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove dfbmsgs.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Delete Facebook Messages browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove dfbmsgs.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove dfbmsgs.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Delete Facebook Messages browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Delete Facebook Messages"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the dfbmsgs.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Delete Facebook Messages browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://dfbmsgs.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Delete Facebook Messages".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the dfbmsgs.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Delete Facebook Messages" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Delete Facebook Messages" look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.dfbmsgs.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "dfbmsgs.com" (or "DFB Search"), and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the dfbmsgs.com redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Delete Facebook Messages" as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://dfbmsgs.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "dfbmsgs"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with dfbmsgs.com redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the dfbmsgs.com redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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