diff --git a/app/scripts/background.js b/app/scripts/background.js
index 83d0f575a..3c46f4693 100644
--- a/app/scripts/background.js
+++ b/app/scripts/background.js
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ const EthStore = require('eth-store')
 const PortStream = require('./lib/port-stream.js')
 const MetaMaskProvider = require('web3-provider-engine/zero.js')
 const IdentityStore = require('./lib/idStore')
-const createTxNotification = require('./lib/tx-notification.js')
+const createTxNotification = require('./lib/notifications.js').createTxNotification
+const createMsgNotification = require('./lib/notifications.js').createMsgNotification
 const configManager = require('./lib/config-manager-singleton')
 const setupMultiplex = require('./lib/stream-utils.js').setupMultiplex
 const HostStore = require('./lib/remote-store.js').HostStore
@@ -55,13 +56,18 @@ var idStore = new IdentityStore()
 
 var providerOpts = {
   rpcUrl: configManager.getCurrentRpcAddress(),
+  // account mgmt
   getAccounts: function(cb){
     var selectedAddress = idStore.getSelectedAddress()
     var result = selectedAddress ? [selectedAddress] : []
     cb(null, result)
   },
+  // tx signing
   approveTransaction: addUnconfirmedTx,
   signTransaction: idStore.signTransaction.bind(idStore),
+  // msg signing
+  approveMessage: addUnconfirmedMsg,
+  signMessage: idStore.signMessage.bind(idStore),
 }
 var provider = MetaMaskProvider(providerOpts)
 var web3 = new Web3(provider)
@@ -209,7 +215,7 @@ function updateBadge(state){
 }
 
 //
-// Add unconfirmed Tx
+// Add unconfirmed Tx + Msg
 //
 
 function addUnconfirmedTx(txParams, cb){
@@ -222,6 +228,16 @@ function addUnconfirmedTx(txParams, cb){
   })
 }
 
+function addUnconfirmedMsg(msgParams, cb){
+  var msgId = idStore.addUnconfirmedMessage(msgParams, cb)
+  createMsgNotification({
+    title: 'New Unsigned Message',
+    msgParams: msgParams,
+    confirm: idStore.approveMessage.bind(idStore, msgId, noop),
+    cancel: idStore.cancelMessage.bind(idStore, msgId),
+  })
+}
+
 //
 // config
 //
diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/config-manager.js b/app/scripts/lib/config-manager.js
index 102327c2d..0e7454dfd 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/config-manager.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/config-manager.js
@@ -145,15 +145,25 @@ ConfigManager.prototype.setData = function(data) {
   this.migrator.saveData(data)
 }
 
+//
+// Tx
+//
+
 ConfigManager.prototype.getTxList = function() {
   var data = this.migrator.getData()
-  if ('transactions' in data) {
+  if (data.transactions !== undefined) {
     return data.transactions
   } else {
     return []
   }
 }
 
+ConfigManager.prototype.unconfirmedTxs = function() {
+  var transactions = this.getTxList()
+  return transactions.filter(tx => tx.status === 'unconfirmed')
+  .reduce((result, tx) => { result[tx.id] = tx; return result }, {})
+}
+
 ConfigManager.prototype._saveTxList = function(txList) {
   var data = this.migrator.getData()
   data.transactions = txList
@@ -201,12 +211,74 @@ ConfigManager.prototype.updateTx = function(tx) {
   this._saveTxList(transactions)
 }
 
-ConfigManager.prototype.unconfirmedTxs = function() {
-  var transactions = this.getTxList()
-  return transactions.filter(tx => tx.status === 'unconfirmed')
-  .reduce((result, tx) => { result[tx.id] = tx; return result }, {})
+//
+// Msg
+//
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.getMsgList = function() {
+  var data = this.migrator.getData()
+  if (data.messages !== undefined) {
+    return data.messages
+  } else {
+    return []
+  }
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.unconfirmedMsgs = function() {
+  var messages = this.getMsgList()
+  return messages.filter(msg => msg.status === 'unconfirmed')
+  .reduce((result, msg) => { result[msg.id] = msg; return result }, {})
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype._saveMsgList = function(msgList) {
+  var data = this.migrator.getData()
+  data.messages = msgList
+  this.setData(data)
 }
 
+ConfigManager.prototype.addMsg = function(msg) {
+  var messages = this.getMsgList()
+  messages.push(msg)
+  this._saveMsgList(messages)
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.getMsg = function(msgId) {
+  var messages = this.getMsgList()
+  var matching = messages.filter(msg => msg.id === msgId)
+  return matching.length > 0 ? matching[0] : null
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.confirmMsg = function(msgId) {
+  this._setMsgStatus(msgId, 'confirmed')
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.rejectMsg = function(msgId) {
+  this._setMsgStatus(msgId, 'rejected')
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype._setMsgStatus = function(msgId, status) {
+  var msg = this.getMsg(msgId)
+  msg.status = status
+  this.updateMsg(msg)
+}
+
+ConfigManager.prototype.updateMsg = function(msg) {
+  var messages = this.getMsgList()
+  var found, index
+  messages.forEach((otherMsg, i) => {
+    if (otherMsg.id === msg.id) {
+      found = true
+      index = i
+    }
+  })
+  if (found) {
+    messages[index] = msg
+  }
+  this._saveMsgList(messages)
+}
+
+
+
 // observable
 
 ConfigManager.prototype.subscribe = function(fn){
diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/idStore.js b/app/scripts/lib/idStore.js
index b462d4ad5..c25d83c9d 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/idStore.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/idStore.js
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ function IdentityStore(opts = {}) {
   }
   // not part of serilized metamask state - only kept in memory
   this._unconfTxCbs = {}
+  this._unconfMsgCbs = {}
 }
 
 //
@@ -140,6 +141,10 @@ IdentityStore.prototype.exportAccount = function(address, cb) {
   cb(null, privateKey)
 }
 
+//
+// Transactions
+//
+
 // comes from dapp via zero-client hooked-wallet provider
 IdentityStore.prototype.addUnconfirmedTransaction = function(txParams, cb){
 
@@ -170,7 +175,6 @@ IdentityStore.prototype.addUnconfirmedTransaction = function(txParams, cb){
 // comes from metamask ui
 IdentityStore.prototype.approveTransaction = function(txId, cb){
   var txData = configManager.getTx(txId)
-  var txParams = txData.txParams
   var approvalCb = this._unconfTxCbs[txId] || noop
 
   // accept tx
@@ -206,6 +210,73 @@ IdentityStore.prototype.signTransaction = function(txParams, cb){
   }
 }
 
+//
+// Messages
+//
+
+// comes from dapp via zero-client hooked-wallet provider
+IdentityStore.prototype.addUnconfirmedMessage = function(msgParams, cb){
+
+  // create txData obj with parameters and meta data
+  var time = (new Date()).getTime()
+  var msgId = createId()
+  var msgData = {
+    id: msgId,
+    msgParams: msgParams,
+    time: time,
+    status: 'unconfirmed',
+  }
+  configManager.addMsg(msgData)
+  console.log('addUnconfirmedMessage:', msgData)
+
+  // keep the cb around for after approval (requires user interaction)
+  // This cb fires completion to the Dapp's write operation.
+  this._unconfMsgCbs[msgId] = cb
+
+  // signal update
+  this._didUpdate()
+
+  return msgId
+}
+
+// comes from metamask ui
+IdentityStore.prototype.approveMessage = function(msgId, cb){
+  var msgData = configManager.getMsg(msgId)
+  var approvalCb = this._unconfMsgCbs[msgId] || noop
+
+  // accept msg
+  cb()
+  approvalCb(null, true)
+  // clean up
+  configManager.confirmMsg(msgId)
+  delete this._unconfMsgCbs[msgId]
+  this._didUpdate()
+}
+
+// comes from metamask ui
+IdentityStore.prototype.cancelMessage = function(msgId){
+  var txData = configManager.getMsg(msgId)
+  var approvalCb = this._unconfMsgCbs[msgId] || noop
+
+  // reject tx
+  approvalCb(null, false)
+  // clean up
+  configManager.rejectMsg(msgId)
+  delete this._unconfTxCbs[msgId]
+  this._didUpdate()
+}
+
+// performs the actual signing, no autofill of params
+IdentityStore.prototype.signMessage = function(msgParams, cb){
+  try {
+    console.log('signing msg...', msgParams.data)
+    var rawMsg = this._idmgmt.signMsg(msgParams.from, msgParams.data)
+    cb(null, rawMsg)
+  } catch (err) {
+    cb(err)
+  }
+}
+
 //
 // private
 //
@@ -352,7 +423,7 @@ function IdManagement(opts) {
     var tx = new Transaction(txParams)
 
     // sign tx
-    var privKeyHex = ethUtil.addHexPrefix(this.keyStore.exportPrivateKey(txParams.from, this.derivedKey, this.hdPathString))
+    var privKeyHex = this.exportPrivateKey(txParams.from)
     var privKey = ethUtil.toBuffer(privKeyHex)
     tx.sign(privKey)
     
@@ -367,12 +438,23 @@ function IdManagement(opts) {
     return rawTx
   }
 
+  this.signMsg = function(address, message){
+    // sign message
+    var privKeyHex = this.exportPrivateKey(address)
+    var privKey = ethUtil.toBuffer(privKeyHex)
+    var msgHash = ethUtil.sha3(message)
+    var msgSig = ethUtil.ecsign(msgHash, privKey)
+    var rawMsgSig = ethUtil.bufferToHex(concatSig(msgSig.v, msgSig.r, msgSig.s))
+    return rawMsgSig
+  }
+
   this.getSeed = function(){
     return this.keyStore.getSeed(this.derivedKey)
   }
 
   this.exportPrivateKey = function(address) {
-    return this.keyStore.exportPrivateKey(address, this.derivedKey, this.hdPathString)
+    var privKeyHex = ethUtil.addHexPrefix(this.keyStore.exportPrivateKey(address, this.derivedKey, this.hdPathString))
+    return privKeyHex
   }
 }
 
@@ -380,3 +462,14 @@ function IdManagement(opts) {
 // util
 
 function noop(){}
+
+
+function concatSig(v, r, s) {
+  r = ethUtil.fromSigned(r)
+  s = ethUtil.fromSigned(s)
+  v = ethUtil.bufferToInt(v)
+  r = ethUtil.toUnsigned(r).toString('hex')
+  s = ethUtil.toUnsigned(s).toString('hex')
+  v = ethUtil.stripHexPrefix(ethUtil.intToHex(v))
+  return ethUtil.addHexPrefix(r.concat(s, v).toString("hex"))
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/tx-notification.js b/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
similarity index 65%
rename from app/scripts/lib/tx-notification.js
rename to app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
index 75985dee1..2b7cbfe66 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/tx-notification.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/notifications.js
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@ const createId = require('hat')
 const uiUtils = require('../../../ui/app/util')
 var notificationHandlers = {}
 
-module.exports = createTxNotification
-
+module.exports = {
+  createTxNotification: createTxNotification,
+  createMsgNotification: createMsgNotification,
+}
 
 // notification button press
 chrome.notifications.onButtonClicked.addListener(function(notificationId, buttonIndex){
@@ -47,3 +49,27 @@ function createTxNotification(opts){
     cancel: opts.cancel,
   }
 }
+
+function createMsgNotification(opts){
+  var message = [
+    'to be signed by: '+uiUtils.addressSummary(opts.msgParams.from),
+    'message:\n'+opts.msgParams.data,
+  ].join('\n')
+
+  var id = createId()
+  chrome.notifications.create(id, {
+    type: 'basic',
+    iconUrl: '/images/icon-128.png',
+    title: opts.title,
+    message: message,
+    buttons: [{
+      title: 'confirm',
+    },{
+      title: 'cancel',
+    }]
+  })
+  notificationHandlers[id] = {
+    confirm: opts.confirm,
+    cancel: opts.cancel,
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c3f323d77..f9db63478 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
     "eth-lightwallet": "^2.2.2",
     "eth-store": "^1.1.0",
     "ethereumjs-tx": "^1.0.0",
-    "ethereumjs-util": "^4.3.0",
+    "ethereumjs-util": "^4.4.0",
     "hat": "0.0.3",
     "inject-css": "^0.1.1",
     "metamask-logo": "^1.1.5",
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
     "three.js": "^0.73.2",
     "through2": "^2.0.1",
     "web3": "^0.15.1",
-    "web3-provider-engine": "^7.6.1",
+    "web3-provider-engine": "^7.6.2",
     "xtend": "^4.0.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {