Windows 7: iexplore.exe processes running in background--normal?

On a fresh boot, after my desktop loads but before I launch any browsing/email/internet applications, I notice I have two or three instances of iexplore.exe running in the list of active processes. Does this seem "normal" for Windows 7, or should I be concerned that iexplore.exe is running even when I have not launched IE?

(Windows 7 x64). Browser is IE8, but Firefox & Chrome are also installed.

Give Malwarebytes Antimalware a try just to be sure.

Run either process explorer or Security Task Manager to check what folder it is loading from. iexplore.exe should run only from C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe If other path then it is a malware.