Chrome browser history showing up as Installed Programs!

[BWR1953]

WTH is going on?

System - Dell e6500 running Windows 10 Pro 64 bit installed on 28 Sep 2020.
8gb RAM, 500mb HDD.

Yesterday I installed Avast! software and when I went to double-check it in the Programs & Features settings, I saw that there are hundreds of "Installed Programs" which are my browsing history, not programs/apps.

It apparently started on 17Nov2020 and I never noticed it. I've already deleted my browser history and whatnot, but that didn't help. Sometimes I can "Uninstall" them individually. Sometimes not.

I uninstalled Avast! but no joy there either. Also, when I installed Avast! yesterday, it hijacked my browser and substituted an Avast! browser instead of Chrome. That's when I discovered the history/programs problem. I did switch back to Chrome.
I have no idea how this happened. This computer and operating system have been rock solid for me for years.
Help?

 

[BWR1953]

October 2022 was the last time I installed a program and didn't notice anything amiss at that time.

I'm thinking that the Avast! installation and browser hijack may be the culprit.

 

[jimmbo]

When you are installing any software/app/program. pay attention to the Screens that pop up requiring a confirmation to proceed. If it offers a Custom Install, use that, as it will still show the Default Choice, but it may have Checkboxes for "make ******* your Default Browser/Image/Media App.

 

[briangcc]

I've found some (most) programs are poorly written to clean up after themselves after an uninstall. I use Revo Uninstaller (there's a free version and paid version - free version works fine).

This is kind of a texas two step. Run Revo Uninstaller. Find the program you want and uninstall it using Revo's interface. Then once the uninstall completes, Revo scans the PC for registry entries and files its left behind. You checkmark those and delete them as well.

I usually uninstall Revo once I've cleaned a PC up.

And I'll 2nd the custom install if its an option. Some of these programs are horrendous installing lots of unwanted/needed programs.

 

[BWR1953]

Thanks for the input, guys. When I installed Avast!, I didn't notice anything saying that they'd install their own browser. And I'm pretty good about such things.

As I said earlier today, I've already uninstalled Avast!, so I'm not sure that installing Revo would do any good.

What really flummoxed me is how a tiny little browser history item could be "Installed" as a program. Totally weird.

An update: after I uninstalled Avast! and their browser, I'm not seeing any new browser history stuff being installed as a program. And I've been able to individually remove each item, but it's taking a long time.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[dingbat]

I suspect your seeing false positives from

Thanks for the input, guys. When I installed Avast!, I didn't notice anything saying that they'd install their own browser. And I'm pretty good about such things.

As I said earlier today, I've already uninstalled Avast!, so I'm not sure that installing Revo would do any good.

What really flummoxed me is how a tiny little browser history item could be "Installed" as a program. Totally weird.

An update: after I uninstalled Avast! and their browser, I'm not seeing any new browser history stuff being installed as a program. And I've been able to individually remove each item, but it's taking a long time.

Thanks again for the help.

I suspect what you’re seeing false positives identified by Avast.
Couple of reviews point this out

 

[stresspoint]

OP says they are installed programs. >>>>Yesterday I installed Avast! software and when I went to double-check it in the Programs & Features settings, I saw that there are hundreds of "Installed Programs" which are my browsing history, not programs/apps.

is it possible that OP has downloaded and installed a rouge copy ???.

 

[BWR1953]

Well, I downloaded, installed and ran a batch Uninstaller. Ghost stuff all removed now.