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How to remove the BrowserHelperObject Module malware

Most antivirus programs classify sfbho.dll as a harmful extension to Internet Explorer: e.g. not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.SideFind (detected by Kaspersky), and BrowserModifier:Win32/Istbar.D (detected by Microsoft). Add-ons like this can display ads, slow down your computer and cause various other errors. If you can't remember installing the associated BrowserHelperObject Module software, it's no surprise. In most cases, this kind of adware is installed on the side when you install a freeware product like a Youtube Downloader or a PDF Converter. In the following selection, you can read more about BrowserHelperObject Module and how to get rid of it.

Click here to automatically remove the BrowserHelperObject Module malware

Sfbho.dll file information

The process known as BrowserHelperObject Module appears to belong to software BrowserHelperObject Module by unknown.

Description: Sfbho.dll is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. The sfbho.dll file is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files" (normally C:\Program Files\sidefind\). The file size on Windows 10/8/7/XP is 96,256 bytes. https://www.file.net/process/sfbho.dll.html 
This .dll file is a Browser Helper Object (BHO) that runs automatically every time you start your web browser. BHOs are not stopped by personal firewalls, because they are identified by the firewall as part of the browser itself. BHOs are often used by adware and spyware. IDs used by this BHO include A3FDD654-A057-4971-9844-4ED8E67DBBB8. There is no description of the program. The program is not visible. The sfbho.dll file is able to monitor web browsers. The service has no detailed description. The file is not a Windows core file. Therefore the technical security rating is 72% dangerous, however you should also read the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify sfbho.dll related errors

External information from Tony Klein:

Important: You should check the sfbho.dll process on your PC to see if it is a threat. If BrowserHelperObject Module has changed your browser's search engine and start page, you can recover your browser's default settings as follows:

Reset default browser settings for Internet-Explorer ▾
  1. In Internet Explorer, press the key combination Alt + X to open the Tools menu.
  2. Click Internet options.
  3. Click the Advanced tab.
  4. Click the Reset... button.
  5. Enable the Delete personal settings option.
This will reset your Internet Explorer to its default settings. Your browser will start with the familiar start page and search engine—without popups, ads, cookies, but all browser add-ons are deleted too [1]. Make cleaning up your browser and your computer simpler and safer with Security Task Manager.

Score

User Comments

sfbho.dll
   
this file is causing problem's with my computer.
  Ron  
I can't delete it from my computer.
   
it wont delete
  BlackBird  
Its in my computer and I cant get it out!!
  Alex  
adware
   
it's a Trojan Downloader, from Istbar
  Naked Pheonix   (further information)
the only way to get reid of it is to change the registry on it. you have too "zero" it out
  Lee  
i got it out by quarantining it first using my virus scan (Mcafee), then deleting it.
  leonrat  
To delete: 1.) Remove the program "SideFind" from the Add/Remove Programs. 2.) Bring up your task manager and end process named "optimizer.exe". 3.) Go to My Computer, C:\Program Files scroll down to the folder named "SideFind" and delete.
  Joshua  
It keeps popping up and shutting the computer down
  Sad Baje  
I removed it unregistering the DLL and deleting ALL directory by dos.
  Spyke   (further information) (further information)
Spyware, Hijacking, IS Technologies SideFind
  its_me  
Part of ISTBar, a spyware app
  Andy   (further information)
it is from www.sidefind.com
  AMA  
Its a part of ISTbar that seriously disrupts stability. My brother had it on his computer- i had to search it up in regedit and delete all mention of it before i could delete the file.
   

Summary: Average user rating of sfbho.dll: based on 21 votes with 16 user comments. 2 users think it's probably harmless. One user thinks it's neither essential nor dangerous. 7 users suspect danger. 11 users think sfbho.dll is dangerous and recommend removing it. 3 users don't grade sfbho.dll ("not sure about it").


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Best practices for resolving sfbho issues

The following programs have also been shown useful for a deeper analysis: Security Task Manager examines the active sfbho process on your computer and clearly tells you what it is doing. Malwarebytes' well-known anti-malware tool tells you if the sfbho.dll on your computer displays annoying ads, slowing it down. This type of unwanted adware program is not considered by some antivirus software to be a virus and is therefore not marked for cleanup.

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding PC trouble. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using cleanmgr and sfc /scannow, uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using msconfig) and enabling Windows' Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or, for Windows 8 and later versions, executing the DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.



Other processes

sfbho.dll [all]