Browser Helper Objects (BHOs)

Sometimes, browsing on different entertainment websites often causes windows to popup asking if you want to install a plug-in to your browser.

Many of my colleagues have many of such plug-ins installed, often to the point that their web browser won't start anymore because a plug-in crashes.

For a long time I've tried to find the technical name of these plug-ins so that I could find the location in registry where these objects are listed.

I finally found the answer, and those plug-ins are called Browser Helper Objects or BHOs.

Now, they get registered to the following registry location:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects

How come these are under "Explorer", not under "Internet Explorer"? Well, now that I know, it's worth checking this location if your browser won't start anymore.