It's very important that you keep your Internet Explorer browser up-to-date. When a new service pack or security patch is released, get it as soon as possible!

The importance of this cannot be overstated. Although you may normally restrict your browsing to websites that are almost always "safe", there are unfortunately those on the Internet that constantly try to come up with ways to exploit Internet Explorer security holes to cause damage. These people may place rogue code on innocent-looking webpages and try attracting people to visit such sites. Do so with an un-patched version of Internet Explorer, and who knows what could happen? At best, perhaps your home page or search page may get changed without your knowledge. At worst, your browser may crash, your entire computer may crash, or your computer could get infected with a virus.

To find out what updates are available to your browser, open Internet Explorer, choose "Tools", then "Internet Update". Scan for updates and apply the latest browser and patch hot-fixes.

Note that if someone else manages your computer hardware and software (if you are using a computer at work, for example), be sure to contact your administrator before applying fixes. Also, while patches are normally safe to install, there is that minimal chance that a patch or hot-fix could cause problems to your machine. Always back up your important data before applying updates.

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