Will this make IE only available if I click on it, correct?
I assume you have a software firewall, and are fairly familiar with it, and how to configure it?
Here's what I do:
My firewall has an option (a checkbox) "Ask for action when no rule is found". (The box is always checked.)
Currenty, my firewall does
not have
any rule(s) for MSIE.
With the "Ask for action..." box checked, when I try to connect to Free Republic (or any site) using IE, my firewall pops up a warning box. It informs me that
'Windows Explorer'...wants to connect to [IP address].
I may then select "Permit" or "Deny" (as well as "Create appropriate filter rule & don't ask me again").
This allows me to use IE to access the Net, granting it "temporary" permission to access each site I may visit.
As always, you may want to double-check your firewall documentation before attempting any changes.
BTW, if you aren't using it, Ad-Aware SE is a free adware/spwyare on-demand scanner. You may want to add that to your arsenal.
You may also want to visit my FR homepage. It's full of PC security-related links.