IE and viruses

If I never use IE do I need to download the updates or can it be infected via another browser?

 

You need the updates for your operating system but you can get virus even if you uses firefox or opera or others.....

But less chance.....if you uses firefox and others.....

 

Thanks, Clark, I've been using Firefox exclusively for a year now. I've kept IE around to preview webpages.
I've ordered a few Linux OS's to trial on an old desktop or on a partition of my laptop's disk and hopefully avoid a lot of the defense activities which take up time I could be using more productively. Microsoft is just pissing me off more and more.

 

Microsoft is just pissing me off more and more.

Yep join the club..... I think they pissing everybody off in the last fews months...

 

Sigh . . . .

Browsers are only as safe as their users. I'm sure you update FF when new saftey patches come out, Right?

I'm just saying you can get Malware from your E-mail or even programs you Choose to install yourself.

IE is more vulnerable because 80% of the world uses it.(My percentage guess, not an official one) So 80% of the viruses are written for it.

Like Clark said ALWAYS keep your computer updated and your browser be it FF or IE and be carefull not to click on anything that looks to good to be true.

Peace

 

I check for FF updates but I didn't know about safety patches. I've used AVG religiously for about 3 years and Xoftspy for a year. Had a free firewall but it got bought and is no longer free. Added Error Dr and Regcure a couple months ago and CC (which is very good - it cleaned out a lot of stuff)

 

AVG is a quality program and so you are safe with that as a choice. You should have a firewall program and can browse here for one you like:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=20

Error Dr, Regcure, and Crap cleaner do not stop viruses from being installed.

Check out the whole page I linked you to. I know you want to

"avoid a lot of the defense activities which take up time I could be using more productively"

but nothing takes up time like having to fix an infested machine.

Be cool

 

Iexplorer is a critical portion of windows. You still need to keep it updated as lots of hidden backend type stuff rely on it and need to keep patched. Basiculy the open time i open ie to do windows updates, but its allways recommended to do all updates even oe ones even if you don't use it cause:
1. Free update, whats it hurt
2. Who knows what else hidden in the background does it affect, some patches do affect several things but list one main topic.

So yes i would still keep doing all updates.