Story so far..

I have been happily using Windows XP for a few years. A week or so ago my computer system prompted me to install updates, and I found myself downloading Windows Internet Explorer 7. I didn't use my computer for a few days, and came home this evening to use it and found that the new Windows Internet Explorer 7 was installed, but was frozen, in fact my whole computer was catatonic. (luckily I've also installed Firefox, but that too was initially paralysed). After turning it off & on, & I deleted Windows Internet Explorer 7 from my system and its now chugging away happily again using the old XP.

I'm still not sure whether that update was the real thing, or whether I unknowingly downloaded a virus. So I googled "Windows Internet Explorer 7 virus" - and google bought up a link saying "News results for Windows Internet Explorer 7 virus". When I went to that link, the screen went black, the computer turned itself off and when I turned it back on again told me that the system had recovered from a serious error.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Did I download a virus masquerading as an update?

freda