That means those running older versions of Internet Explorer on Windows Vista or Windows 7 will automatically be updated to Internet Explorer 9, while XP users will update to Internet Explorer 8. While the Web browser has followed the practice of notifying users when an update was available, this new process will just get rid of the prompt and push the update straight through without any interaction from those with IE. To avoid automatically updating or to set an update schedule, download Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 Automatic Update Blocker toolkits. But there is a way... Also, those that have previously opted out of updating their version of IE through Windows Update will not have this pushed upon them.

  Internet Explorer 8 will be the upgrade destination for Windows XP users, while Windows Vista and Windows 7 users will be automatically upgraded to the newer version of Internet Explorer 9.   In short, by putting the latest, most updated version of Internet Explorer in the hands of users, online security would increase, as many attacks around the web are created to take advantage of vulnerabilities found in outdated software.   The process will include users of the Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems.   Internet Explorer’s GM of business and marketing Ryan Gavin put it simply by saying, “The Web overall is better—and safer—when more people run the most up-to-date browser.