Internet Explorer 11 is out for Windows 7-Should you use it? Of course not!

If you know me then you also know just how much I love the Internet Explorer web browser, it certainly gets a lot of my attention when it comes to posting items on this blog.

As it is now out and is part of the 'critical updates' found in the windows update, don't worry as it will be installed automatically in most cases, unless you have your windows updates turned off (probably not a good idea). The question is, should you use it?  Absolutely not! You should continue to use Chrome as your main web browser, and again, if you know me, then you should have the Avant Browser as your backup "internet explorer" browser, since it emulates the Internet Explorer exactly.  The thing is you still do require the Internet Explorer to be installed as it is (still) an integral part of the Windows operating system "internet" operating system. Even though you are not using it as a browser, some of the components of the product are used in the landscape of the windows connectivity to the internet (winsock for example) Therefore having it installed is only going to help with the overall security of when you surf the web on a windows machine.

Getting to the actual Internet Explorer and just why I am so against using it.. the security is quite obviously the first issue but there are so many other reasons. For example, when you first install and use it, you will notice the nice plain and simple look which has changed substantially from previous versions. This is because they are trying to take a page from Chrome in simplicity, but the real problem is they are missing the point in simplicity by doing away with some very basic and serious points, like the Status Bar! When you are browsing the web, having the ability to point at a link BEFORE clicking on it helps to determine if you really want to be clicking on it. Having this turned off by default it a click on a malicious site waiting to happen! The fact that the other menu bars are also turned off are fine except for the fact that any 'toolbar' that was installed as a result of malware already installed on your computer is still completely functioning even without the Menu and Favorites bar being selected to view within the browser, therefore you are actually better off having these selected to view so that you can see what other toolbars are enabled and installed (so that you can remove them using CCLEANER)

The Internet Explorer and the fact that you do not use it will result in less chance of installing malicious products, something I have pretty much tested from the amount of user computers I maintain, but not installing it will also leave your system more open to certain internet/network related security holes that Microsoft continues to patch on a weekly basis. This is why the Internet Explorer is considered a Critical Update and also why the XP Operating system is simply not safe enough to use on the internet these days, since IE9 is the last available version for XP. If you are still running XP then you should be getting yourself a new computer sooner rather than later!

As always, if you aren't sure about something just ask me and I will help in any way I can, hopefully making your time with technology a fun experience!