Windows 7 + IE Security Updates

Read a Brink thread on IE9 and a question percolated.

Internet Explorer is part of Windows 7 and can't be uninstalled, merely "turned off". I don't use IE and I have it turned off at the earliest possibility.

A few years back, when I used ATI/AMD's control panel's links, IE would run to access the hyperlinks, instead of the default browser. Very disturbing! I have not encountered that scenario since then. Relief!

I did a return-to-factory install in March and according to the update history, Windows Update has not pushed a Security Update for Internet Explorer onto my system.

Is my system relatively secure in regards to the unpatched Internet Explorer that is integral to Windows 7?

Hello Gigggles,

I would recommend completely updating IE to 9, with all patches, and simply setting another browser as your default. The truth is that windows itself often will use IE, refusing to use all other browsers. This won't hurt anything, it is just how it is set up. No reason to disable IE completely, even from a security standpoint.

The security factor would come into play with the browser you run most of your websites from. Make sure that browser is completely updated at all times, and all important or critical windows updates are installed.

So my suggestion would be, once again, to update everything, and just use the browser you are most comfortable with.