ie8 officially out tomorrow

[dddavis1954]

It's classified as a "critical update" and automatically installs if automatic update is on, WHY???
It has caused too many users a lot of grief. 

If you have problems uninstall ie8 to get back to IE7 and run windows update manually
for XP uncheck and click the + and then check "do not show again"

for VISTA view available updates, uncheck, right click and hide the update.

[squall_01]

It's classified as a "critical update" and automatically installs if automatic update is on

Thats why.

[computeruler]

they want to force people to use it

[x2543]

they want to force people to use it

You don't have to use it, and probably that would make the computer more secure, in that you're getting the latest IE updates from MS and thus thwarting possible hacks and cracks via the IE. But win 7 allows you to disable IE so that it doesn't work on your pc until you re-enable it.