Microsoft has been urging users to install updates for its Internet Explorer browser even though the software is disabled by default in Windows 10. The company says that the updates are important for security reasons, but some users are concerned about the potential consequences of installing them. The first concern is that installing updates could break your computer. If you’re using a Windows 10 version that’s been updated to the latest version of IE, then Microsoft has already installed all of the necessary updates for you. However, if you’re using an older version of IE or if you’ve disabled automatic updates, then Microsoft may have failed to install all of the necessary updates and your computer may be at risk. The second concern is that installing updates could cause problems with your web browsing. If Microsoft has installed any important security patches as part of its update process, then they may conflict with any other software or settings on your computer. This can result in problems with your web browsing experience, including crashes and unexpected errors. If you’re concerned about either of these potential consequences, it’s best to wait until after you’ve installed an update before using your computer. You can use the Windows 10 Update History tool to see which updates have been installed on your system and whether there are any known issues with them. ..
Internet Explorer has had a bit of a reputation problem over the years and some people prefer to disable it on their systems. But if you have disabled it, should you continue to install security updates for it regardless? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has the answers to a curious reader’s question.
Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites.
The Question
SuperUser reader Stefan Surkamp wants to know if he should install updates for Internet Explorer even though he has it disabled on his system:
Should he worry about installing the available updates for Internet Explorer, or can he ignore them?
I am aware that I can not uninstall Internet Explorer, and that it remains on my system. Are there any security issues if I do not install the available updates, or can I disregard all the updates for Internet Explorer?
The Answer
SuperUser contributors John and Virtlink have the answer for us. First up, John:
Followed by the answer by Virtlink:
Even if you do not use Internet Explorer, you really need to install the updates. If a hacker gains entry to your system, they may attempt to abuse a known vulnerability that you could have patched but did not, and then your problem is compounded. Additionally, since Internet Explorer is a shell used by some other browsers and applications, if you are using one of those tertiary browsers (such as Maxthon), you would be stuck with an older version of Internet Explorer that renders the pages (even though the interface is something else).
When dealing with vulnerabilities, you need to do a cost/benefit analysis. Does the cost of the downtime to install, and any compatibility problems it produces, outweigh the risk or loss incurred from an attack?
It is always a good idea to install all Windows updates to help keep your system as secure as possible. Far better to be safe and worry free than very sorry and reinstalling your system from scratch later on.
Internet Explorer is very tightly woven into the fabric of Windows. For example, Internet Explorer’s proxy settings, the hosts file, and Windows Firewall are examples of parts of Windows that are intertwined with Internet Explorer. A vulnerability here puts your whole system at risk.
Additionally, as you can not uninstall Internet Explorer, it can run and make your system vulnerable. You do not know when it will run. For example, if you are viewing a Help file (.chm), Internet Explorer is rendering the page for you. Some browsers and other applications use Internet Explorer under the covers to render rich content. Again, a vulnerability here puts your whole system at risk.
Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.
