Browser Helper Objects (BHOs)

A browser helper object (BHO) is an application that enables developers to customize and control Internet Explorer. When Internet Explorer starts, it reads the registry to locate installed BHOs and then creates them. Created BHOs then have access to all the events and properties of that browsing session. The APIs for building BHOs give developers almost complete control over Internet Explorer.

Applications that install BHOs are becoming more popular because BHOs allow application developers to control Internet Explorer. BHO technology has allowed the development of some applications that provide useful functionality to its users.

It is possible that there are BHOs installed on your computer that you do not know about. While there are some good uses for BHOs, they may not necessarily need your permission to install and they can be used for malicious purposes like gathering information on your browsing activities.

Some spyware and BHOs can cause computer problems such as incompatibility issues and corrupting important system functions, making them not only a threat to security but to your system’s stability.

Some companies hide the presence of the spyware BHOs that they install. They find ways around the most popular detection tools by changing their product regularly.

To see what BHOs you have installed on your computer, run the BHO Explorer. The BHO Explorer displays a list, and the details, of each BHO installed. In addition, a flag is set next to most BHOs to indicate whether the BHO is considered safe, unknown, or hazardous.