What is a Browser Helper Object?
A Browser Helper Object is a small program that can be used to customize Microsoft Internet Explorer. Browser Helper Objects are small, lightweight COM components that extend the functionality of Internet Explorer. BHOs were introduced in IE 4.0 and are immediate descendants of ActiveX Controls. Browser Helper Objects can perform tasks such as downloading a file from a web site, installing a toolbar, or altering the behavior of certain HTML tags.
BHOs are installed in Internet Explorer by placing them in the BHO folder, which is usually located in the Windows directory. The BHO folder is a protected system directory, so BHOs placed in this directory are loaded automatically when Internet Explorer starts.
Some BHOs are written by third-party developers in order to add functionality to IE that is not present in the default installation. Other BHOs are written by malware authors in order to hijack IE and redirect users to malicious web sites, or to display unwanted advertising.
It is important to be aware of the BHOs that are installed on your system, as some BHOs can negatively impact IE performance, or pose a security risk. To view the BHOs that are currently installed in IE, go to the Tools menu, select “Manage add-ons”, and click on the “Browser Helper Objects” tab. This will display a list of all BHOs that are currently installed.
If you suspect that a BHO is causing problems with IE, you can disable or delete the BHO from the same “Manage add-ons” dialog. However, before you do this, you should research the BHO to make sure that it is safe to remove.
Some well-known and safe BHOs include the Google Toolbar, Yahoo! Toolbar, and Microsoft’s own Bing Bar. These BHOs add features to IE such as search boxes, popup blockers, and form assistants.
While BHOs can be used to add legitimately useful functionality to IE, it is important to be aware of the potential risks posed by malicious or poorly designed BHOs. For this reason, it is always a good idea to research a BHO before installing it, and to carefully review the list of BHOs that are installed on your system..Click here for info
How Does Spyware Get onto Your Computer?
Spyware is a type of malicious software that is installed on computers without the users’ knowledge. It is designed to collect information about the user, such as their online activity, and send it to the person who installed the spyware. Spyware can be installed through email attachments, downloads from the internet, or by exploiting security vulnerabilities.
Once installed, spyware can be difficult to remove and can cause problems for the computer such as decreased performance, unexpected pop-ups, and new icons on the desktop. Spyware can also steal personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers.
There are a few ways that you can protect your computer from spyware. Install and update an anti-spyware program. Be cautious when downloading programs from the internet. Do not click on links in email messages unless you are sure of the sender. Keep your operating system and software up-to-date with the latest security patches.
If you think that your computer has been infected with spyware, you can run a scan with an anti-spyware program to remove it. You can also try restarting your computer in Safe Mode, which will disable any programs that start automatically. Finally, you can try using a System Restore point to undo any changes that the spyware may have made.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about types of spyware. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.