The Iexplore.exe file is the executable file for the popular Microsoft Web browser, Internet Explorer. If you open the Task Manager on your Windows XP system by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del when Internet Explorer is running, then you can locate “iexplore.exe” as a running task on the Processes tab. However, if this file is visible in the Task Manager even when Internet Explorer is not running, then it is likely that your computer is infected by a virus. As a result, you may encounter frequent Iexplore.exe errors on your computer and your system’s performance may deteriorate considerably. In this article, we will have a look at what causes the iexplore.exe virus and the methods to prevent the problem.
How Iexplore virus infects a computer
One of the most common threats that can plant the iexplore.exe virus file on your system is a backdoor, such as Backdoor.GrayBird. In the world of computers, a backdoor is a method used to bypass the normal authentication processes to gain access to a system. Backdoor runs silently on the system and cannot be detected by normal system check up processes.
The backdoor, Backdoor.Graybird is named after a Chinese remote access tool that can be configured to run silently in the background on the computer being hacked. Some of the tasks that a backdoor can perform on a user computer are:
- Reboot the system
- Access all files and folders
- Capture screenshots
- Turn on your Webcam
- Steal username and passwords
- Take full control of your computer
The Backdoor.Graybird is sent to the user computer by a hacker. On the user computer, by default, the backdoor runs silently as “iexplore.exe.” The backdoor keeps trying to connect back to its control server to let the remote server know that it is online on the user computer and can now be controlled. After the hacker gets the message, he or she can now run the server-side software of the backdoor and see all computers on the user network that can be controlled with the help of the backdoor.
To protect your computer from backdoor infections and prevent errors, such as iexplorer.exe error, you must follow the preventive measures listed below:
- Do not click links or open attachments that come with unsolicited emails because email is the most used method to plant backdoors on user computers.
- Do not download or visit websites that you do not trust.
- Keep your antivirus and anti-spyware software updated with latest definitions to ensure that your PC is well-protected against the latest viruses, backdoors, and spyware.
- Implement firewall and intrusion protection tools to prevent any authenticated access to your computer or computer network.
- Keep your computer updated with the latest patches – you must be more careful with patches on computers that are accessible through firewall, such as computers that allow HTTP and FTP access.
- Implement passwords that are difficult to crack to limit the damage that can be caused by virus and backdoor infection – you must be especially careful with computer passwords on a network.
- Disable services that you don’t use on your computer; for instance, disable services such as FTP server, Web server, and Telnet because they open up your system to malicious attacks.
- Configure your email and email server to block file attachments with specific extensions, such as .scr, vbs, .pif, and .bat that are frequently used to spread viruses.
- Run regular registry scans, to keep the system registry free from malicious entries such as entries related to the iexplore.exe virus file and other legitimate looking malicious entries planted by backdoors.
