Is IE really vulnerable with normal protection?

If this particular question has been answered, I'm sorry for asking it again. I didn't find it in a search.
All the talk I've seen about how IE is so vulnerable to hacker/spam/virus attacks frightened me into installing Mozilla Firefox. I had been using the Avant browser, which is a shell of IE and, I'm told, is just as vulnerable as IE.
Fact is, I like Avant a lot more than Firefox. And, as far as I know, I've never had a problem with it (or IE). Of course, I'm using the old-fashioned W98 First Edition.
I have Avast 4.1 Free Home Edition, Zone Alarm Free 3.2, Ad-Aware Free 6.1, and Spyware Blaster. Avast updates itself frequently; I keep all the others updated and use them weekly.
So ... should I feel safe in using Avant?
Thanks.

 

It's your freedom of choice.

However Microsoft releases monthly updates mostly dealing with security, or the lack thereof, and it almost always has to deal with someone having the capability of installing malicious software or taking control if your system.
I have never seen spyware that attacks any other browser besides IE, not yet anyway.

If you are safe, chances are you won't have a problem and if you do you could fix it.

Good Luck.

 

I don't see Spybot on your list.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html

 

Try CCleaner too.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4191.html

 

Ie is more vulnerable than FF. Keep that in mind when you use it. If you feel a need to go to a site that you are not completely sure about, consider FF instead. Keep IE away from seedy websites and it will be a lot safer for you.

 

Even when IE is "locked down" with the website restrictions properly enforced, there are still some vunrabilities that could be exploited.

SpywareBlaster automatically adds a whole load of websites to the Restricted zone to help clamp down when a questionable website wants to do things to yout computer.