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What is a Browser Helper Object?

A Browser Helper Object (BHO) is a DLL file that Internet Explorer loads whenever it starts. BHOs were introduced in IE4 and allow third-party developers to write code that hook into IE and extend its functionality. Many BHOs are innocuously named and provide useful services, such as providing search suggestions as you type into the IE address bar, or providing a toolbar with extra buttons. Some BHOs, however, can negatively impact your browsing experience by changing your home page, settings, or search provider without permission, or by injected advertising into webpages you visit.

Malicious BHOs can be used to collect sensitive information like your browsing history, passwords, and credit card numbers or to install malware on your PC without your knowledge. To help protect yourself, it’s important to know what BHOs are installed on your computer and what they do. You can disable or delete BHOs in IE to prevent them from running without your permission or knowledge.

Browser Helper Objects were introduced in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 as a way for third-party developers to extend the functionality of the browser. A BHO can be written in any programming language that supports COM, such as Visual Basic or C++.

When Internet Explorer loads, it checks the registry to see if any BHOs are registered and, if so, loads them. BHOs are different from regular COM components in that they are loaded into the same process as the browser and have direct access to the browser’s data structures and methods. This allows BHOs to perform actions that cannot be done by regular COM components, such as intercepting events generated by the browser or modifying the browser’s user interface.

BHOs can be used to add new functionality to the browser, such as providing search suggestions as you type into the address bar, or providing a toolbar with extra buttons. BHOs can also be used to change the behavior of the browser, such as changing the home page or search provider without the user’s permission or knowledge.

Some BHOs are necessary for the proper functioning of the browser or add functionality that you may find useful. However, others are installed without the user’s knowledge or consent and can negatively impact the browsing experience. For example, a BHO may change the home page to a page that displays advertising, or inject advertising into webpages that you visit.

Malicious BHOs can also be used to collect sensitive information, such as your browsing history, passwords, and credit card numbers, or to install malware on your PC without your knowledge.

To help protect yourself, it’s important to know what BHOs are installed on your computer and what they do. You can use the built-in Windows BHO Manager to view a list of all BHOs installed on your computer and to find out more about each one.

If you find a BHO that you don’t need or trust, you can disable or delete it in IE to prevent it from running. To disable a BHO, select it in the BHO Manager and click Disable. To delete a BHO, select it in the BHO Manager and click Delete..Click Here

What is Traybundle Spyware?

Traybundle is a type of spyware that is installed on a computer without the user’s knowledge. Once installed, it collects information about the user’s online activities, including the websites they visit and the searches they perform. This information is then sent to the creators of the software, who can use it for marketing or other purposes.

Although Traybundle is not considered malicious, it can be a privacy concern for users who are unaware that it is installed on their computer. In some cases, Traybundle may also be bundled with other forms of spyware, which can pose a more serious threat to users.

If you think Traybundle may be installed on your computer, you can use an anti-spyware program to scan for and remove it. You can also take steps to avoid spyware in the future by being cautious about the websites you visit and the emails you open.

Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about types of spyware. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.