Internet Explorer is in Windows 10 for compatibility reasons. If you come across a website that does not work in Edge, the idea is that you can run Internet Explorer and use that instead.
This can be useful on occasions, but the need to use Internet Explorer is decreasing month by month.
Edge, Chrome and Firefox are superior in many ways, so avoid Microsoft’s old browser if you can.
Some malware, adware and PUPs (potentially unwanted programs), change Internet Explorer’s home page and search engine, adds toolbars and show advertising. Even if you do not use it, it is worth checking occasionally to make sure that nothing has been installed in it.
Malware can be installed into Windows and installed separately in Internet Explore. It must therefore be uninstalled from both places too.
Uninstall toolbars and software
Right click the Start button and select Programs and Features. This opens Programs and Features in the Control Panel
Look at each program listed and uninstall anything that might be a toolbar, a search helper or search protect. Double click any suspected item and follow the instructions to uninstall it.
There are so many variations of malware, adware and PUPs that it is impossible to say what to look for. Conduit and Trovi are two common irritations in Internet Explorer for example, but there are others.
Clean the browser
Click Internet Options in the Control Panel
Select the General tab and in the Home page section delete everything and enter the home page you want to use, such as http://www.bing.com
In the Start-up section select Start with home page.
Click the Tabs button and under When a new tab is opened, open: select either A blank page or Your first home page.
Select the Advanced tab and click Reset followed by Restore advanced settings.
Remove add-ons
Select the Programs tab and then click Manage add-ons.
Select Toolbars and Extensions on the left and on the right, select each item and remove it or disable it using the button below.
Select Search Providers on the left and on the right, select the one you want to use and click the Set as default button below. Select each of the others and click the Remove button below.
Clean up other browsers
Other web browsers are cleaned in a similar manner. The menu options in Chrome and Firefox are different to Internet Explorer, but the technique is the same.
- Delete unwanted software from Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
- Reset the browser’s home back back to whatever you want.
- Delete any add-ons or extensions in the browser.
- Delete unwanted search engines and set the default to whatever you prefer.
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Course Contents: Windows 10 Security Guide
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