What Is Adware BHO?
Adware.BHO is a term that is used to describe a specific type of Browser Helper Object that is used to display ads on websites when using Internet Explorer. A BHO is a DLL file that is loaded when the Internet Explorer browser is opened. An Adware.BHO can do many things, including tracking navigation and generating pop-up windows. This type of BHO can also act as a Trojan and is used to hijack the browser.
-
Installation
-
Adware.BHO can can get installed on Internet Explorer is many different ways. Once of the most common is through the installation of a browser toolbar or with certain freeware of ad-supported software. An Adware.BHO can also be installed by visiting an intentionally infected or compromised website.
Symptoms
-
The symptoms that an Adware.BHO has been installed include browser redirects and firewall alerts that a program wants to connect to the Internet. Another symptom is constant pop-up boxes with various types of advertisements in the browser.
-
Detection
-
An Adware.BHO can be detected in many different ways. One way is to view add-ons that have been loaded into Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer add-ons can be viewed by clicking on the "Tools" drop-down, then selecting "Enable or Disable Add-ons" from "Manage Add-ons." An add-on can be listed as being either disabled or enabled.
Removal
-
An Adware.BHO can be removed by various methods depending on the nature of the BHO. Typically, the DLL file for the BHO needs to be deleted from the system to remove the BHO from the browser. An intrusive BHO that may be a hidden Trojan can be removed by running an antispyware program such as Spybot Search & Destroy (see Resources).
Prevention
-
Install a program such as WinPatrol (see Resources) that can monitor when a BHO wants to be added as a helper object to the Internet Explorer browser. The program will display an alert message when an item wants to be added to Internet Explorer. You will have the option to allow or deny the addition of the item.
-