Microsoft Internet Explorer

What is it?

Internet Explorer is Microsoft's web browser. It comes with the really nifty features of... well, it can get you to different websites. However, Internet Explorer 7, the latest release from Microsoft, has addressed many of the software's notorious issues with security and feature dearth. Grab the latest version from Microsoft's website and breathe slightly easier.

How do I get it?

It is included with all recent versions of Windows. Check out Windows Update for the latest version.

Should I use Internet Explorer?

Windows

There was a day when Internet Explorer was a pretty spiffy program. Those days are gone. People who use IE get more spyware, adware, and viruses than users of any other web browser. For this reason we really suggest that you start using a different program. The best alternatives currently available on the PC are Firefox or Opera.

If you are completely wedded to the Big Blue E, please visit Windows Update and update to IE7, which is much more secure and feature-rich than previous versions.

(Note: You will still have to use Internet Explorer for Microsoft Update, and certain other Stone Age sites that haven't gotten around to supporting other browsers, but believe us, you'll be grateful for the security this change will bring.)

Macintosh

We recommend that you do not use Internet Explorer on the Mac. Microsoft no longer supports it, it has known security vulnerabilities, and many web pages will not load properly in it. We recommend you use Safari or Firefox instead.

Can I uninstall it?

Windows

Unfortunately, no. Even if you've decided to switch to another browser, you still have to keep IE around. One reason is that some very important websites, like Microsoft Update or the update page for McAfee Antivirus, simply will not function in anything other than IE. The other reason you can't purge IE from your computer is that Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer are tied together, so deleting IE breaks the program that lets you navigate your computer's filesystem and lets you browse other computers and shares on the Pomona network.

You can, however, get IE mostly out of your way. When you launch whichever alternate browser you've chosen, it will ask if you want to make it your default browser. If you don't use it often, it will disappear from the list of frequently-accessed programs on the left side of your Start menu. Basically, if you ignore it, it will get out of your way, except when you actually need it.

Macintosh

Yes. As with most Apple software, you can simply drag the Internet Explorer program from the Applications folder to the Trash.