Upgrade Internet Explorer

The first thing to do is to make sure you’re using the latest version of the Internet Explorer. We recommend running the latest version because it includes many security features that were not present in previous versions. (At the time of writing, this was version 8.)

If you are using Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, then you already have Internet Explorer 8 installed by default.

You can see if you are running the latest version by visiting Microsoft's website. On the page displayed it will either say you have the latest version or offer you an option to download the latest version.

Web Browser Choice Screen

Over the next few months, Microsoft will begin offering a “Web browser choice screen” to Internet Explorer users in Europe, as required by the European Commission. If you are an Internet Explorer user in Europe, here is what to expect.

Microsoft will use Windows Update to provide the choice screen to users who are running Internet Explorer as their default browser.

Once the update is installed it will present a list of browsers, with links to learn more about them and install them. Users who get the choice screen will be free to choose any browser or stick with the one they have by doing nothing, as they prefer. 

The update will be offered as an automatic download through Windows Update for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. This means that for most users it will be installed automatically, or will prompt you to download or install it, depending on which operating system you are running. If you do not have automatic updating enabled, you can get the choice screen by going to Windows Update and clicking on “Check for Updates.”

If you are running Internet Explorer as your default browser, here is what you will see after the software update is installed. An introductory screen appears first. In the screen shot below we added a few comment bubbles to point out certain features.

The browser choice screen, shown below, will present you with a list of leading browsers in a random order.

The browsers that are listed and the content relating to them will be updated from time to time. The screen provides three options: Click on “Install” to install one of the listed browsers. Click on “Tell me more” to get more information about any of the browsers. These links (and the logos and associated text) are provided by each vendor. Click on “Select Later” to review the choice screen the next time you log onto your computer. This software update will also add a shortcut to your desktop, from which you can launch the choice screen at any time.

Risks

The only real risk is that users are conned into downloading a non-genuine update. This update will only be offered through Windows Update, not in an email or any other non-official Microsoft website. Be wary of scams or third parties asking you to download their version or click a link.

For more information

Security features

Internet Explorer has several important safety features:

• Identifying phishing and other kinds of spoof websites using a feature called SmartScreen.
• Blocking unwanted popup windows.
• Displaying safety information in the status bar and address box.
• InPrivate Browsing
  
  

SmartScreen

The SmartScreen filter and other built-in security features help you stay safe by protecting against deceptive and malicous websites that can compromise your data, privacy and identity.  You can read more about SmartScreen by clicking here.

InPrivate Browsing

When checking e-mail at an Internet café or shopping for a gift on a family PC, you don't want to leave any trace of specific web browsing activity. InPrivate Browsing in Internet Explorer 8 helps prevent your browsing history, temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, and usernames and passwords from being retained by the browser, leaving no evidence of your browsing or search history.

You can start InPrivate Browsing by opening a new tab and selecting Browse with InPrivate or selecting it from the Safety button on the top right corner of the browser window. Once you complete this action, Internet Explorer 8 will launch a new browser session that won't record any information, including searches or webpage visits. To end your InPrivate Browsing session, simply close the browser window.

For more information

Restrict what unknown websites can do to your PC

Microsoft Internet Explorer has a feature designed to restrict the damage that a rogue Internet site can do. It groups websites into one of four zones: trusted, restricted and local intranet and internet. When you start Explorer for the first time, all sites are in the ‘Internet’ zone which has medium-high restrictions. You can allocate sites into the other categories. Restricted sites are the most constrained whereas trusted sites have maximum freedom. To add a website to a different category, go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click the Security tab, and then click the security zone where you want to add the site.

More information

• Microsoft questions and answers on Internet Explorer.