Shoot the Messenger

Shoot the Messenger

This extension sequentially unsends all messenges in a messenger chain.

What is Shoot the Messenger?
Shoot the Messenger is a Chrome extension aimed at safeguarding user privacy by effectively and sequentially unsending all messages in a chosen Facebook Messenger thread. Unlike others, this tool removes messages not just from the sender's, but also from the receiver's inbox. The result being, anyone in the thread sees 'X has unsent a message' instead of the original text. It operates by simulating mouse clicks on user interface, not by using any server interactions or manipulating Facebook's Messenger API.
Stats
By: amol
Users: 4,000+
Rating: 3.80 (46)
Version: 6.0.2 (Last updated: 2023-09-20)
Creation date: 2021-03-24
Risk impact: Low risk impact
Risk likelihood: Very low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 3
Permissions:
  • activeTab
  • storage
Host permissions:
  • http://*.messenger.com/*
  • https://*.messenger.com/*
Size: 110.59K
URLs: Website
Stats date:

Other platforms

Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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Summary

(Buy my gf a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theahura -- I don't drink the stuff but she loves it)

If you're like me, you've been on FB Messenger for over a decade. And if you're like me, you care about privacy. I wrote this extension to clean up my digital footprint. Unlike other extensions, which only hide the messages from the user's inbox, Shoot the Messenger will remove messages from the RECEIVER'S inbox as well.

It's simple: you open a messenger thread on a desktop, press 'remove messages', and go get a coffee. While you're gone, the extension will scroll up through your messenger thread and automatically unsend every message. Unsending a message means that anyone in the thread will see 'X has unsent a message' instead of the original text of the message.

Technical details: this extension doesn't send any information to any servers, or try to reverse-engineer Facebook's messenger API. Instead, it simply simulates mouse clicks on the UI as if a user was pressing buttons.

The code can be found here: https://github.com/theahura/shoot-the-messenger/ I'll be posting updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theahura_

User reviews
User reviews summary
These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Chrome Web Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Effective at cleaning up messages
  • Highly appreciated by users when it works
  • Developer is noted for attention to detail
Cons
  • Some users experience errors and it does not work
  • Slower than some users would prefer
  • Issues with refreshing the page unexpectedly
Most mentioned
  • Helpful and useful when functioning correctly
  • Messages not always deleted or skips some messages
  • Certain users encountering errors and functionality issues
Recent reviews
It works but after few minutes it stops working and it says- Skipping holder: [object HTMLDivElement].... Need to fix this and another problem is it miss out many messages but most importantly the first issue needs to fix asap
by YaMin KhAn YaMin KhAn, 2024-03-26

works well! there are times when it skips some messages but coming back to them theyre apparently cleared.

Fantastic!
by Aryan Islam Aryan Islam, 2024-02-06
View all user reviews
Safety
Risk impact

Shoot the Messenger is relatively safe to use as it requires very minimum permissions.

Risk likelihood

Shoot the Messenger has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

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Screenshots
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