When I open CCleaner to clean up my junk files, I always have several 'temp internet files' listed under IE, which seems strange because I never use IE.
Is IE just part of the Windows OS?
Does it run in the background?
or do I have a virus that is connecting to the internet without my knowledge?
As far as I can tell it's normal. I get the same as you do.
I.E. is part of Windows 7
I have checked Services, Task Manager and Process Explorer and I can't find it running.
I'm guessing it running somewhere in Systems.
Yeah, I've always just 'assumed' that it was normal and that IE was just embedded within the OS somehow, but never asked how or why it is needed by Windows.
Does it communicate with Edmunds WA. - letting them know that my activation key is authentic?
Internet Explorer is in a number of ways a part of the OS but the browser does not run in the background. The Temporary Internet Files folder is not just used by Internet Explorer but by Windows Explorer, Windows Desktop Search, and possibly other things as well. Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer actually have much in common.
There are numerous Plugins available for internet explorer it's self,
But outside of that Security suites often update/ for an example mine does so every hour,
So it depends on what services/ messengers/ Skype/ Skydrive/ Facebook........ you have enabled because they all update.
Another one would be Microsoft sending usage data on Microsoft programs you use.
Thanks for the info - this is a great forum.
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