Hello kibblesnbits,
Firstly, I'd like to emphasize that Messenger Plus! itself is not spyware or adware in any way. If you choose to install without the sponsor program then you will have only Messenger Plus! and no spyware and no adware. However, even then Microsoft AntiSpyware will detect it.
If you install Messenger Plus! with the sponsor program then an adware package will also be installed (no spyware). This adware package is easy to remove and has been added to support the developer. Installation of it is in no way mandatory; installing it or not will not affect the functioning of Messenger Plus!.
Now the thing with Microsoft AntiSpyware is that one could say it tries too hard. It does not detect the sponsor program itself, but it detects Messenger Plus!, even when the sponsor program has not been installed. What it says is 'hey, you might have installed the sponsor program that came with Messenger Plus!' - and detects all Plus! files and registry keys in the process, making it look very dangerous.
However, a closer look shows that the threat is an
adware bundler: no spyware, and not adware itself. It bundles adware (= sponsor program) - but if you have not installed it, or removed it afterwards, then there's nothing to worry about. The default action is to ignore, I believe.
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The best proof that Messenger Plus! is not a spyware or another kind of virus is that no serious Anti-Virus software or Spy-Detection tool will detect Messenger Plus! as being dangerous in any way...
Technically, Microsoft AntiSpyware detects it as 'Adware Bundler': not dangerous, and it's not about Messenger Plus! itself (as I've tried to explain above).
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the danger of the spyware is pretty low
Take a look at the screen again; spyware or adware? And there's no threat (hence the 'low' level)
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I've already uninstalled the sponsor thing from Add/Remove programs, thinking maybe that was it. It wasn't, it still detects stuff.
Unfortunately it does, yes, as I've mentioned above. If you've got rid of the sponsor, you're all clear, really.
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if there's a way to get rid of the spyware and still keep MSG plus, then I'd love to hear it.
I hope I've explained everything as good as possible. There's no spyware, as you see. There's nothing to worry about
If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask them. You could also read the thread Anubis linked to, it has much information as well
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