Do I need these updates?

[Deleted User]

I've just checked for available updates, and there are 6 listed as "important".

The first 2 are related to IE.

Cumulative Update for Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 for x64-based Systems (KB2936068)

Download size: 35.9 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this cumulative update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2936068

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

Security Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player for Windows 8 for X64-based Systems (KB2942844)

Download size: 16.9 MB

You may need to restart your computer for this update to take effect.

Update type: Important

A security issue has been identified in a Microsoft software product that could affect your system. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article. After you install this update, you may have to restart your system.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2942844

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

I'm running Google Chrome, so do I still need to install them?

Lum

IE is so deeply embedded into Windows, and used by so many things (such as Windows Help, and also 3rd party apps like Steam) that yes you still need to update it.

It's also quite possible for someone to exploit a different browser (including Chrome) in such a way that it manages to launch IE and then exploit IE separately. Hell just tricking you into downloading and viewing a compromised Windows Help file would do that.

Install the updates.

[Deleted User]

Thanks. Will do.

debitcardmayhem

To be honest guv Microsoft send updates for good reason, i.e. to address crashes (rarely) and vulnerabilities (often) and occasionally just to wind up the user (because they have been "sloppily tested" ....difficult given the multitude of different hardware involved) there really is no reason to not install them. Many times people post on here with symptoms of viruses, malware etc. and have out of date service packs , java et al , they do not seem to realise that they are storing up their problems until tomorrow.

Kernel_Sanders

If you never use IE wouldn't it be better to just uninstall it ?

Lum

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

If you never use IE wouldn't it be better to just uninstall it ?

That hasn't been possible since the 1st edition of Windows 95. On later version of Windows, uninstalling IE just removes the icons and denies direct access to the browser by the end user. This does remove some exploit venues but by no means all of them.

It's still there and many other parts of Windows, and third party apps, will still use it. The most common examples of this are, like I stated a couple of posts above, Windows Help files and Steam.

Websites can trick you into a viewing a malicious help file that exploits an IE vulnerability, and Steam ultimately is browsing web pages on the internet and so is subject to almost the same risks as using IE as your primary browser.

You can even end up having files associated with IE (.gif is common) and so be tricked into opening a malicious one of these! Admittedly doing the uninstall thing does help with this one.

These are just three examples, there are many more out there, there almost certainly even more to come in the future.

Install the updates!