There's no doubt that Internet Explorer has been a major target of attack for spyware merchants and other ill-intentioned goons. That's why many folks have turned to alternate browsers for their web surfing.
When you are using another browser and do not use Internet Explorer anymore, there is a case for being made that you must remove it from your system. It is, after all, a possible security threat so, if you do not need it, why not eliminate it?
Except, getting rid of IE is not that easy. Actually, with later versions of Windows there's no satisfactory way of removing it completely without risking crippling Windows itself.
That hasn't stopped folks from trying to remove IE, however, and you can find several techniques documented on various web sites. Instead of removing IE I like the simple and safer approach of disabling it. Sure, it may not provide a similar degree of security as complete removal but that's a small price to pay for compared to the price of potentially de-stabilizing Windows.
There are several disabling techniques but I suggest the strategy below as it's simple, easy to reverse and doesn't interfere with the operation with the Windows Update service. Furthermore it should work with any modern version of IE.
Step 1. From IE select Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings.
Step 2. Put a tick within the check box next to "Use a Proxy Server for your LAN ...”
Step 3. Type in "0.0.0.0" within the address box and "80" in the Port box. Don't type in the quote marks of course, just what's inside them.
Step 4. Click OK.
What you've done is set up a dummy proxy server 0.0.0.0 that goes nowhere. With these setting IE cannot make an HTML connection to the web and vice versa. You've simply and effectively disabled IE.
There is no magic in the 0.0.0.0 address, any dead proxy address would work simply as well. I've used that particular address to keep things simple.
If you ever need to re-enable Internet Explorer start it up and select Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings from the toolbar and un-check the box "Use a Proxy Server for your LAN ...”
When you are using another browser and do not use Internet Explorer anymore, there is a case for being made that you must remove it from your system. It is, after all, a possible security threat so, if you do not need it, why not eliminate it?
Except, getting rid of IE is not that easy. Actually, with later versions of Windows there's no satisfactory way of removing it completely without risking crippling Windows itself.
That hasn't stopped folks from trying to remove IE, however, and you can find several techniques documented on various web sites. Instead of removing IE I like the simple and safer approach of disabling it. Sure, it may not provide a similar degree of security as complete removal but that's a small price to pay for compared to the price of potentially de-stabilizing Windows.
There are several disabling techniques but I suggest the strategy below as it's simple, easy to reverse and doesn't interfere with the operation with the Windows Update service. Furthermore it should work with any modern version of IE.
Step 1. From IE select Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings.
Step 2. Put a tick within the check box next to "Use a Proxy Server for your LAN ...”
Step 3. Type in "0.0.0.0" within the address box and "80" in the Port box. Don't type in the quote marks of course, just what's inside them.
Step 4. Click OK.
What you've done is set up a dummy proxy server 0.0.0.0 that goes nowhere. With these setting IE cannot make an HTML connection to the web and vice versa. You've simply and effectively disabled IE.
There is no magic in the 0.0.0.0 address, any dead proxy address would work simply as well. I've used that particular address to keep things simple.
If you ever need to re-enable Internet Explorer start it up and select Tools/Internet Options/Connections/LAN Settings from the toolbar and un-check the box "Use a Proxy Server for your LAN ...”
