MS is sending regular (monthly, I think) 'malware' removing routines. From what I've read, they just do their thing and go away - these are not permanent installs. I agree that a well setup system (AV, Firewall, etc.) are much more important than the browser, but in general MS's previous record has been rather horrid with respect to computer security: * Messenger - unless you are in a localized business environment, this service should not only never be running, it should be shot as a traitor. The stupid vulnerabilities that it introduces with its automatic installation and startup give MS the "two-thumbs in your eye" award for stupidity beyond the call of the duty. :) * Outlook - (which I still use, sorrily) has improved, but still allows possibilities for triggering scripts and malicious HTML pages. The only circumvention is to never open attachments, never open unrecognized/unsolicited emails, and turn off HTML email support. * MS Office - in conjunction with Outlook, you have vulnerability city populated by a bunch of software that opens 'back orifaces' :=) to all sorts of issues unless you update (manually) on a regular basis. Basically, the internet to hackers is the same situation as software is to crackers. The mantra for software is this: The only crack-safe software is software that is never run. The analogy for the internet is: The only computer safe from hackers and other malicious attacks is never connected to the internet.

C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot. C++ makes it harder, but when you do, you blow your whole leg off.

 -- Bjarne Stroustrup

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