Remove TBMessagingHost.exe by Conduit (Removal Guide)

TBMessagingHost.exe is part of a potentially unwanted program that is designed to protect its bundled programs and make sure they remain installed or unchanged by other third party programs.
The TBMessagingHost.exe program is a part of the “Search Protect by conduit” program, and is developed by Conduit Ltd, a company known for their malicious programs.
TBMessagingHost.exe has 9 known versions, the most recent one is 1.5.0.71. TBMessagingHost.exe is run as a standard windows process with the logged in user’s account privileges. By adding a startup entry to the run registry key, the file will be executed when the user logs into Windows. The average file size is about 2.45 MB.

If you have TBMessagingHost.exe program on your system, you will typically see two “TBMessagingHost.exe” processes running in the Windows Task Manager.
During the process’s lifecycle, the typical CPU resource utilization is about 0.0046% including both foreground and background operations, the average private memory consumption is about 18.98 MB with the maximum memory reaching around 21.68 MB. Addionally, typically read and write I/O disk operations is about 3 KB per minute for reads and 210 Bytes per minute for writes.

TBMessagingHost.exe is typically added when you install another free software (video recording/streaming, download-managers or PDF creators) that had bundled into their installation this program. Very often users have no idea where did it come from, so it’s not surprising at all that most of them assume that TBMessagingHost.exe is a virus. This program is also bundled within the custom installer on many reputable download sites, so if you have downloaded a software from these websites, chances are that TBMessagingHost.exe was installed during the software setup process.
TBMessagingHost.exe it’s technically not a virus, but it does exhibit plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities to hook deep into the operating system, browser hijacking, and in general just interfering with the user experience. The industry generally refers to it as a “PUP,” or potentially unwanted program.

Once installed, TBMessagingHost.exe will change the default search engine and home pages in all major web browsers, and if you try to revert to their default settings, this program will not allow you to perform these changes.

TBMessagingHost.exe is bundled within the installer of many toolbars, adware and other pottentially unwated programs, with the sole purpose of making the removal process of this programs more difficult.
Some examples of infections that will install the TBMessagingHost.exe program are: AppMarket toolbar, Connect 5 toolbar, Entrusted toolbar, Fun toolbar and many more programs.

Various antivirus engine detected the program and its executable as malware:

• avast! Win32:SearchProtect-B [PUP]
• Dr.Web Adware.BGuard.15
• ESET NOD32 Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect.A
• ESET NOD32 a variant of Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect.B
• ESET NOD32 a variant of Win32/Conduit.SearchProtect.B
• VIPRE Antivirus Conduit (fs) (not malicious)

If for some reason couldn’t be properly loaded because your system is still configured to run this file you are getting an error with the following message.

C:\User\(User name)\AppData\Local\NativeMessaging\CT3306926\1_0_0_6\TBMessagingHost.exe
Windows cannot find
C:\User\(User name)\AppData\Local\NativeMessaging\CT3306926\1_0_0_6\TBMessagingHost.exe
Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

This TBMessagingHost.exe error is basically caused by a Windows startup key which is trying to find the TBMessagingHost.exe which was either removed or moved from it’s location.

You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this TBMessagingHost.exe hijacker. Be very careful what you agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.

How to remove TBMessagingHost.exe (Virus Removal Guide)

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove TBMessagingHost.exe pop-ups from your computer, and any other adware program that may have been installed during the setup process.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
STEP 1: Remove TBMessagingHost.exe Error from Windows with Autoruns or Ccleaner
STEP 2: Remove TBMessagingHost.exe from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome with AdwCleaner
STEP 3: Remove TBMessagingHost.exe virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
STEP 4: Double-check for the TBMessagingHost.exe infection with HitmanPro

STEP 1 : Remove TBMessagingHost.exe Error from Windows with Autoruns or Ccleaner

In this first step, we will remove the TBMessagingHost.exe startup registry key with Autoruns or Ccleaner.

1. You can download Autoruns utility from the below link.
   Download AutorunsYour download starts right away.
2. Double-click on the autoruns.exe program to start this utility, then click on the File button and select Find.
   Alternatively, you can scroll through the list and look for any entry related to TBMessagingHost.exe and Conduit.
   
3. In the Find box type TBMessagingHost.exe, then click on the Find Next button.
   
4. Autoruns should now show you the TBMessagingHost.exe registry key, and you will need to right-click on the entry and choose Delete.
   
5. Restart your computer, and see if the issue is fixed.

If the TBMessagingHost.exe startup error persists you can use Ccleaner to remove this startup item.
1. You can download Ccleaner utility from the below link.
Download CCleanerOpens the download page in a new tab.
2. Install Ccleaner and start this utility, click the Tools icon at left, then click the Startup button.
3. In the Startup screen, you’ll see a list of all items that have been set to start automatically with Windows. Select for Conduit, then click on the Delete button.

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STEP 2: Remove TBMessagingHost.exe from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome with AdwCleaner

The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer for TBMessagingHost.exe adware, that may have been installed on your computer without your knowledge.

1. You can download AdwCleaner utility from the below link.
   Download AdwCleanerFree official download. Nothing to install.
2. Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.
   
   If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
3. When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the Scan button as shown below.
   
   AdwCleaner will now start to search for TBMessagingHost.exe malicious files that may be installed on your computer.
4. To remove the TBMessagingHost.exe malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the Clean button.
   
   AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to reboot the computer. Please do so and then click on the OK button.

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STEP 3: Remove TBMessagingHost.exe virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free utilizes Malwarebytes powerful technology to detect and remove all traces of malware including worms, trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware and more.

1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double-click on the icon named mbam-setup.exe to install this program.
   Download MalwarebytesFree official installer. Your download starts right away.
2. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process, then at the last screen click on the Finish button.
   
3. On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, and then click on the Scan button to start searching for the TBMessagingHost.exe malicious files.
   
4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for TBMessagingHost.exe as shown below.
   
5. When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.
   
6. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the computer infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked), then click on the Remove Selected button.
   

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STEP 4: Double-check for the TBMessagingHost.exe infection with HitmanPro

1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
   Download HitmanProOfficial Sophos download. Free scan, free 30-day trial to remove threats.
2. Double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.
   
   Click on the Next button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.
   
3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for TBMessagingHost.exe malicious files.
   
4. When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the Next button, to remove TBMessagingHost.exe adware.
   
5. Click on the Activate free license button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
   

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Your computer should now be free of the TBMessagingHost.exe infection. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future, and perform regular computer scans with HitmanPro.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove TBMessagingHost.exe virus from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance