How to Disable Internet Explorer
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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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.
Hi,
I tried this but it doesn't work on my computer at home, which is the one i am trying to disable. maybe because it is NOT a LAN computer? i am using cable internet....
any other advice?
I have a slightly different problem - I take care of the computers for a chain of convalescent hospitals. We need to add computers to the nursing stations so that the nurses can interact with the database of residents (they are not called patients), but we don't want the computers to become entertainment for the evening and night shifts.
The above trick (a dead proxy address) will stop most of the nurses, but we have a few that grew up with computers - it might them for about 20 minutes.
We need to leave LAN access open (for the nursing station computers to talk to the hospital server) but need to disable internet access.
Any ideas?
(PS the clients are all XP pro, the server is Server 2003
You could try blocking IE via the registry.
copy and paste the following code in notepad and save it as ***.reg. When you double-click it it will ask you if you want to merge the info into the registry. Just click yes to confirm
--------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"DisallowRun"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun]
"1"="IExplore.exe"
-------------------
If you are afraid that the nurses are enough computer savvy to undo this, you can always disable the registry editor too. Use the following code as above.
-------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"disallowrun"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\disallowrun]
"1"="IExplore.exe"
"2"="regedit.exe"
im using windows 2000 sp4, disabled IE6 and i have just connected to msn messenger 7.0 normally, i even think faster :P :), anyway thanks for this tip TECH's :P
Disabling IE disables Opera. Opera uses IE's proxy settings.
I disabled Internet Explorer in Vista using set program access and defaults. msn works fine an i set forefox as the default, no issues guys.
Hi,
My PC (Windows XP) got a very nasty bug, qq-show.qq.cn. It resets the main page in IE and opens up an IE window every 30 minutes. First, I put it in the Restricted site list. It helped in the sense that the pop-up IE window shows a title only with no content in the actual window. Next, I un-installed IE using Control Panel's Remove Program. I thought that would be enough. It's not! The IE window still appears every 30 minutes. So annoying!! I tried SpyDoctor and AdWare. Both of them seem to be able to detect something is wrong, but neither of them could really kill the bug. I wish someone out there can offer a solution. Would really really appreciate..
I had a similar problem and used Malwarebytes it found the malware that norton missed and it is freeware for home use without the extras. I hope that helps.
Most programs that use the internet have a default setting to use ie proxy settings, but can be changed to use the ip that exporer used, or connect directly. (or through an annonimous proxy)
What about blocking the program
c:\programs\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
in your firewall?
Internet Explorer is integrated into Yahoo Messenger so things that go wrong with IE can affect Yahoo Messenger! I had to enable IE again so I can use YM.
This woulda been a good solution 10 years ago- now all your really doing is hiding popups, without fixing the problem.
In XP Pro I went into Set Program Access and Defaults > Add Remove Windows Components > uncheck IE. I use Avant browser. So far no problems. I did run the troubleshooter and tested Messenger when it took a while the first time. Now Messenger logs ok.
By default, some programs use internet explorer settings to connect to Internet. You should uncheck this option with the softwares you've mentionned.
"By default, some programs use internet explorer settings to connect to Internet. You should uncheck this option with the softwares you've mentionned."
Sorry to be stupid, but could someone tell me how to do this? Windows XP Pro.
Hi -- the block is not just on MSN Messenger, but on chat programs that allow MSN connections as well, such as Trillian. So it's good this is easily reversible, since many people I chat to persist in using MSN, poor unenlightened s*ds. But it was nice to kick IE in the wotsits while it lasted!
PS One day I hope to be in a position to get a username and then all will know that I'm not hiding, even though anonimity can be a warm blanket at times.
When I disabled Internet Explorer I was no longer able to log on to MSN Messenger.
Many softwares like media players use IE internally and they may get affected right?
Hi,
I found that when I disabled internet explorer, I had problems with itunes and also live365 online radio.
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