A Browser Helper Object (BHO) is a library file created to work as a plug-in for Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser and provide added functionality. BHOs were introduced in October 1997 with the release of version 4 of Internet Explorer.

The function of one BHO is to display different file formats in the browser that normally would not be able to display the different formats. An example of such a BHO is The Adobe Acrobat plug-in that allows Internet Explorer users to read PDF files within their browser.

Another BHO adds extra toolbars to Internet Explorer such as the Google Toolbar that contains the Google search box. The BHO adds this tool bar to the browser user interface.

One concern with BHOs is that they may be used to act as spy wares. Such a BHO would record the keystrokes used for typing passwords and attempt to gain access to confidential information illegally. There are other BHOs that are designed to track users browsing patterns and pass the information to third parties who are interested in studying internet usage. To avoid these problems, Microsoft has developed an Add-on Manager to Internet Explorer that displays a list of all installed BHOs. This allows the users to enable or disable whichever BHO they want.

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