http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

I use Mozilla-Firefox.  I gave up on IE long ago. 

You might also do a spyware scan using "Adware"

I would also download  Dr. Web and do a system scan for virus and trojans.

And if those don't help, you can always go to Microsoft's site and reinstall IE.

"It is good to see ourselves as others see us. Try as we may, we are never
able to know ourselves fully as we are, especially the evil side of us.
This we can do only if we are not angry with our critics but will take in good
heart whatever they might have to say." - Ghandi