Should you be installing the Internet Explorer version 8 if/when you are prompted during a windows update? My answer would be, "yes", but why if you don't ever use it because you use the AVANT BROWSER or FIREFOX or the newcomer CHROME? The reason is because with any new program, it has options and these options will allow you to customize the use, or non-use of the program and will also help with the built in windows security at the same time, since part of all of the windows operating system (to date) uses the 'explorer' as part of the main frame of the operating system.