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There's no doubt that Internet Explorer has been a prime 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. If you are using another browser and don't use Internet Explorer anymore, there's a case to be made that you should remove it from your system. It is, after all, a potential security threat so, if you don't need it, why not get rid of it? Except, getting rid of IE is not that easy. In fact, 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 favor the simple and safer approach of disabling it. Sure, it may not provide the same degree of security as complete removal but that's a small price to pay compared to the cost of potentially de-stabilizing Windows. There are several disabling techniques but I suggest the method below as it's simple, easy to reverse and doesn't interfere with the operation of 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 3. Type in "0.0.0.0" in 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 internet and vice versa. You have simply and effectively disabled IE.
There's no magic in the 0.0.0.0 address, any dead proxy address would work just 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 ...”
If you really want to remove IE more completely then you can check out these resources but, as I said, I don't recommend it.
http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html
http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html
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Thanks a lot - how easy! I could have thought about the same :)
I am using Vista Home Premium and FF ver 3.0, I have disabled IE and have not had a problem with any updates, as well, I use Avast and other anti-spyware programs, I love that IE does not come up for any links. However, if you want to view videos from like ABCnews.com, you will have to use IE, but who cares?
Or print selection/selected frame. Is there a FF add-on for that? (There are addons for just about every other function that other browsers do out of the box!) ;-)
Be warned !!!! if you disable IE a lot of software will not update.. I tried this and and found that my spyware, anti-virus and firewall all freaked out.. the irony is that a lot of the security software recommended by this site will report errors during updates if you disable IE.. in the interests of peoples sanity i would recommend removing this tip...
I second that, it seems over the top advice for most users. There are other (less drastic) steps you can take to help insure nobody uses IE, like removing shortcuts, hiding it's executable etc. Whether (with the release of IE8) you are going to gain anything from doing this is another matter..
I need to download Adobe Photoshop, and to complete this install I had to disable IE. After I disabled the IE, still Adobe Photoshop is not installing properly. This is what's written when the Setup stops:
Installation cannot continue until the following applications are closed:
-Internet Explorer
Please close the application(s) listed above and click "Try Again" to continue the installation. Click Cancel to exit Setup.
Please help!
Do people actually need to disable IE8? Unlike IE7, it is as secure (if not more so) than most 3rd party browsers (for now at least).
I need to download Adobe Photoshop, and to complete this install I had to disable IE.After I disabled the IE, sitll Adobe Photoshop is not installing properly. This is what's written when the Setup stops:
Installation cannot continue until the following applications are closed:
-Internet Explorer
Please close the application(s) listed above and click "Try Again" to continue the installation. Click Cancel to exit Setup.
Please help!
Son unos mogolicos. Eso no desabilita Explorer, eso evita que navegues.
If you do this any program that you have on your computer (such as MSN/Windows Live Messenger) that relies on Internet Explorer for interenect access will no longer work. Basically these programs share the same settings, by entering 0.0.0.0 as a proxy, none of these programs can now connect (this is simply because IE is installed by default and it's the simplist way for other programs to connect to the internet).
Your best option would probablly to be just setting Firefox/Opera/Safari etc to your default browser and then remove the IE shortcut from the start menu to stop people from using it.
HAVE KIDS... HAVE AOL Guardian. I need to disable IE so they can't 'go around" the AOL guardian access. Will the above work? Any other options? AOL is a pain in many ways, but has a GREAT guardian program to keep my kiddos safe.
I did this to IE and now Quux Player will not stream any radio stations. In fact, I was listening to the radio and it cut off after I closed IE, and I got 'connection failed' on all stations I tried to get. I enabled the IE connection again, and the stations started streaming again. How strange! Big brother at work behind the scenes!
if IE is disabled in this, my msn (windows live messenger) can't connect it says (more people have the same problem above^). Is there a way of having IE disabled this way but not disabling msn as a result? like by connecting through firefox instead or something like that?
If you use a dialup connection, you have to look under Internet Options > Connections > Settings. If you use LAN Settings, IE will ignore the proxy and still connect to the Internet. But it still works if you set the dummy address under the proxy settings for dialup connections in "Settings".
You're a genius. Thanks for the manipulation technique.
:
StoneCuban
IT IS REALLY GOOD ONE..!!!!!
use linux guys worth every minute and $$
Isn't linux a freeware?? so no $$ involved
when i go into my IE folder there is no tools option. no connections and no LAN settings, yet its the source of the spyware on my computer, i cant remove the spyware until IE is disabled, what do i do
Used proxy setting 0.0.0.0 to disable IE, unfortunately disabled google chrome as well. Guess I will just have to live with IE enabled but never used.
Excellent! Two down for one shot.
did not work. bad.
( the: 0.0.0.0 ) CAUSED WAAAAAY TOOOO MANY PROBLEMS,..... DON'T FORGET TO SET A RESTORE DATE!!
GRRRRRRRRRRRR another piece of crap just popped up. I'll never be saying that again now that Internet Explorer is gone forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Use IEiradicator it works. And Thank you!
My computer crashed (what a shock and dismay that such crap is sold to the public!) after restoring everything IE come up with AOL flyshit all over everything. When I first obtained the computer AOL was my only available internet access (via long distance). I have since canceled my AOL account and uninstalled AOL. Now I cannot find AOL to uninstall and I fear that it is hard wired into IE? How do I remove, get rid of, disable, delete, trash, KILL the AOL!
Thanks for your help.
Post to the forum.
Getting rid of IE is a wonderful idea and I used a commercial Program called XP Lite to do it...then I had to reinstall it because I rudely discovered that there are a lot of company invoicing websites that won't work with any browser other than Internet Explorer, so no IE = no paycheck. That is literally all it is used for.
so how can i use msn with no ie i am now using firefox
use emesene.
when i disable ie i cant go on windows live messanger someone pls help
Yes, but this is a bonus isn't it?
Ok so how do i enable internet explorer?
After I disabled IE, I can still get MSN, but not Yahoo Messenger
You can disable Internet access, by adding a dummy DNS server in your TCP/IP settings under DNS. 1.1.1.1 You'll still be able to access the INTRANET from this PC, for instance a server or other pc/printer.
Thanks. I think my IE has some kind of virus because IE windows kept popping open despite performing AVG and Norton security scans, and Microsoft says I am up to date with updates. So I just wanted to disable the damn thing. So far so good...
Internet Explorer is the most standard and popular connection for applications. If you disable/remove it, these applications will have no way of connecting to the Internet (yes there is a way but the application isn't smart enough to figure that out itself). I would recommend simply changing your default browser to something else. After all if iexplore.exe isn't started, it can't really do anything to your computer, can it? Plus, this proxy method will affect other browsers as well because they seem to tend to use the iexplore.exe method too.
Louie
but sure if other programs use iexplore.exe then it is started isn't it even if you don't literally go and open up IE
Actually, it CAN do stuff to your computer without having it open.
Mine would open without my consent, and continuesly open until I shut the computer down. It froze all major commands, and would kill off my internet service.
I have neither a virus(I have scanned numerous times), nor do I have a hacker. IE is extremely bugged.
Run spybot search and destroy, sounds like you have adware.
Internet Explorer should never have been made a part of the OS. Period. YOU should ALWAYS have a choice for something that should ALWAYS be an option in your OS. If you don't need a browser, you shouldn't have to have one.
Disable IE. Use something else. Something that YOU want, not what MS wants you to use. It's YOUR LIFE.
It's there to simply allow you to connect to the internet, last time I checked I was free to use whatever browser I wanted to...
And it's BILL'S COMPUTER.
I rename IEXPLORE.EXE into IEXPLORE.bad.
It doesn't start that's all I know.
This is excellent. Why didn't someone think of this before?
So simple - must be the #1 method.
I will also try it with Windows Explorer and other stuff I don't want.
I use free Smoothwall Express with 2 easy to load add-ins:
www.urlfilter.net and www.advproxy.net
Advproxy has "browser check" so you can disable IE, Media Player or even Firefox for your whole network.
So here's what the interface looks like:
www.advproxy.net/images/screenshots/smoothwall-3-main.png
(Browser check is at the bottom of the panel)
how do you change IE to morzella firefox? (i can't go to any websites i am using a different computer to do this.)
i did try it but was no longer able to connect to internet at all any help pls
(i am novice )using xp
IE is part of your OS, geesh, leave it alone people, just keep up with the updates you will be fine and watch where you surf. Every browser is dangerous and is a security threat......lmao...even firefox, there is no guarantees.
Its dangerous when you connect to the internet! these days, alot more malware
is going around (957,000) total infections im close anyway, a decade ago we were at a tenth of that.. Update Update and Update with updates, especially your pc drivers will keep pc more stable and less affected by infections and of course paid for antivirus and antispyware programs. I know its alot work but there are no short cuts unless you want to pay for them later. example:
how much your pc cost?.....can you afford to buy one every month?...I dont care if its new, this does not mean you cannot get infected. Theres 1 reason why its safer....because its UPDATED!!!!!!!! lol so keep up with updates, my pc is 11 years old and runs fine. virus and spyware and adware free.
1. I don't care for bloatware that installs without allowing the user to accept or decline the Alexa trackware that IE has built in and refuses to disclose to the user or allow opt outs.
2. The update features add spyware and disable your computer with NO recourse, and the update sites are very USER UNFRIENDLY. I am on my third PURCHASED copy of XP home because Microsoft's automatic update keeps voiding my XP authentication codes through their Genuine Windows Advantage process and their call center in Bombay will not help me get it going and cannot understand my very thick AMERICAN accent. I will be switching to another OS as soon as I can find an easy to use OS.
3. There is NO such thing as "customer service" in the Microsoft realm. They are not even aware of the meaning of the term. Once they have your money, forget any assistance with their products.
Try using Ubuntu. It's pretty easy if you are coming from a Windows background. I used XP and still support XP but use Ubuntu Desktop. I like the connect to computer option and most tasks are pretty easy on Linux.