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 Browser
Helper Objects (BHO)
hijack your Internet Explorer to cause problems
By Mitz
Free
computer Education
Do you find yourself
going to websites that you didn't want to go to. Do you feel like your
Internet Explorer is possessed and has a mind of its own? These could be
some of the symptoms of having an unregulated Browser Helper Object attached
itself to your Internet Explorer.
Browser Helper Objects
were actually created by Microsoft itself. Their purpose was to allow
add-ons to the Internet Explorer browser, however now independent
malware developers are misusing this feature.
What is a Browser
Helper Object?
A Browser Helper Object
is a small dll file that is usually included with a program you may be
installing. For Example Adobe Acrobat reader has a BHO that is installed so
that you can read PDF documents through Internet Explorer. The Google
toolbar is a Browser Helper Object and has a number of features. It can
record where you have been on the internet , block popups, save bookmarks,
and more..
Its the browser Helper
Objects that did not ask your permission to be installed and are lurking in
the background that are the problem. They can be collecting information
about you. Have you ever seen the message that pops up and says your
computer has a virus and you have to download a program immediately. That is
a BHO. It sometimes costs $20 to $30. How do you think that message got into
your computer?
If you visit a
site that needs a BHO's to display properly,
it should ask if you want to download and install
it. However if the BHO is downloaded
and installed automatically
without asking your permission, then your Internet Explorer security
settings are too low. For example you will be prompted to install Adobe
Flash Player to view sites that have flash animation.
How to see what
BHO's are installed in your Internet Explorer 7 (Windows XP SP2)
- Open Internet
Explorer.
- Click on the
Tools menu at the top.
- Choose Manage
add-ons.
- Choose Enable or
disable add-ons
Here you will see a list
of BHO's that are installed into Internet Explorer.
How to see if your
Internet Explore problem is caused by a Browser Helper Object.
You can
start Internet Explorer without starting the add-ons. If the problem still
occurs then the problem is with something else.
To start Internet
Explorer without add-ons
-
Go to
your start menu in the bottom left corner. Click
start.
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Choose All Programs from the bottom of the menu.
-
Choose Accessories, then system tools.
-
Choose Internet Explorer (No Add-ons)
to start the program without add-ons.
How to
remove BHO's
My virus
checker picks up Browser Helper Objects, including the Alexa toolbar. When
found you can usually have the option to allow the BHO or remove it. There
are some really great free virus checkers and computer cleaners available
out there.
Check out the links to free
Download
Software.
- To allow add-ons to run again, close
Internet Explorer and restart it normally.
- You can also start Internet Explorer with
out add-ons by right-clicking the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop
and then clicking No Add-ons.
- Turn off System
restore, remove BHO's, then restart System Restore and create a new
restore point. Start fresh.
- Make sure you have no
unwanted BHO's when upgrading from IE6 to IE7. They will be transferred
with the upgrade.
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About the Author
Mitz Pantic wrote this article and others for
tips4pc.com
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