What is a Browser Helper Object?

By Matt Williams

By the sound of the name, one might think a Browser Helper Object would be helpful, after all, who couldn't use a little help now and then? A Browser Helper Object, or BHO, is actually a program that runs each time you run your internet web browser and it helps with browsing in some way. Unfortunately, much of this so called help comes in the form of tracking your web surfing activities and reporting the data back to third parties such as marketers.

Malicious Browser Helper Objects typically become installed on your system without your knowledge or consent by piggybacking on other downloaded programs. In addition to compromising your privacy and increasing ads targeted at you, these Browser Helper Objects also can cause numerous computer errors such as page fault errors, runtime errors, program conflicts, and more. In addition, PC performance suffers dramatically resulting in a sluggish PC.

Not all Browser Helper Objects are installed without your knowledge. Some are installed on purpose. For example, the Google Toolbar is a Browser Helper Object that many people install on their systems willingly. The technology behind Browser Helper Object allows for some neat programs that do help the browser. Unfortunately, this same technology allows developers of malicious programs complete control over Internet Explorer and can be put to use without the user's knowledge. When this happens, your privacy is invaded and a real threat to your financial information now resides on your PC.

An example of a malicious Browser Helper Object is a Browser Helper Object that activates whenever it detects a secure connection to a financial website. Once activated, the Browser Helper Object records all keystrokes and reports them back to a third party who then exploits that data. Other Browser Helper Objects track a user's surfing habits and reports them to marketers that take that information to create targeted pop-up ads on the user's system.

In addition, Browser Helper Objects also have the ability to install additional spyware and other malicious programs without the computer user's consent or knowledge.

Malicious Browser Helper Objects are developed to exploit the unrestricted access to the Internet Explorer's event model. Many of the malicious Browser Helper Objects are so poorly written that they interfere with Windows, causing numerous errors and corrupting the system. Browser Helper Objects are relatively easy to develop and the malicious developers don't work to make their software safe and bug-free. As a result, your PC will not only have a spyware application on it, it will become unreliable and unstable as well.

If you run Windows XP Service Pack 2 or above, or if you have upgraded to Internet Explorer 7, you can use the built-in Add-on Manager to manage Browser Helper Objects along with browser extensions and ActiveX controls. By using the Add-on Manager, you can enable or disable these components as needed.

If you don't have these Microsoft versions, other software utilities exist to combat the threat that Browser Helper Objects pose. You can download programs such as BHO Cop or BHODemon. These programs scan your registry in search of known Browser Helper Objects and then let you disable them on a case-by-case basis.

hile Browser Helper Objects can help Internet Explorer perform better, malicious Browser Helper Objects are abundant and are capable of sneaking onto your system.

Remove Browser Helper Objects and Fix BHO Registry Errors