Problem with iexplorer.exe multiple openings

For about a week now I've noticed some issues with Internet Explorer 8 (running in Windows 7 OS) in changing some (not all) of my favicons I have saved in my Tabs area, got a little worried at that point.  But now I'm really concerned with seeing multiple copies of "iexplorer.exe" opening up in my Task Manager Processes area.  Also, every so often I'll have a small window-type pop-up on my monitor saying something like "Internet Explorer couldn't open up a tab so it closing down" -- funny thing is that I wouldn't even have IE open.  I've been using Firefox for the last couple of days fearing I have a virus or Trojan running in the background when opening up IE.

 

I have Norton 360 Version 3 and the most current LiveUpdates on my system.  After running a full system scan, clearing out my IE and Windows Register files and rebooted several times--it still shows up in my Task Manager.

 

Any one have any ideas or had this happen to them recently?

Hi bkmatwa,

 

Multiple processes running for IE 8 is normal.  The browser opens each new tab as a seperate process, so if one crashes it doesn't take the rest of your browsing session with it.  The alerts that IE is closing when you weren't even aware of it being open is a little more worrisome.  There is malware that will commandeer whatever browser is set as your default and it will launch the browser in the background (and if you then also open the browser yourself this will create another running process unrelated to the explanation given above).  Besides running the scans suggested by AllenM, you should check Task Manager after you boot up your PC, before opening IE, and make sure that the browser is not already mysteriously running.


SendOfJive wrote:

Hi bkmatwa,

 

Multiple processes running for IE 8 is normal.  The browser opens each new tab as a seperate process, so if one crashes it doesn't take the rest of your browsing session with it. 

>> Ain't that the truth?!? With my work in the forums here I occasionally find I leave too many tabs open and start running low on memory and have to shut a bunch down. :smileywink:


 

 


SendOfJive wrote:

Hi bkmatwa,

 

Multiple processes running for IE 8 is normal.  The browser opens each new tab as a seperate process, so if one crashes it doesn't take the rest of your browsing session with it.  The alerts that IE is closing when you weren't even aware of it being open is a little more worrisome.  There is malware that will commandeer whatever browser is set as your default and it will launch the browser in the background (and if you then also open the browser yourself this will create another running process unrelated to the explanation given above).  Besides running the scans suggested by AllenM, you should check Task Manager after you boot up your PC, before opening IE, and make sure that the browser is not already mysteriously running.


 

 

Except to do with this in the persons post,

 

 "funny thing is that I wouldn't even have IE open"

 

Quads

For about a week now I've noticed some issues with Internet Explorer 8 (running in Windows 7 OS) in changing some (not all) of my favicons I have saved in my Tabs area, got a little worried at that point.  But now I'm really concerned with seeing multiple copies of "iexplorer.exe" opening up in my Task Manager Processes area.  Also, every so often I'll have a small window-type pop-up on my monitor saying something like "Internet Explorer couldn't open up a tab so it closing down" -- funny thing is that I wouldn't even have IE open.  I've been using Firefox for the last couple of days fearing I have a virus or Trojan running in the background when opening up IE.

 

I have Norton 360 Version 3 and the most current LiveUpdates on my system.  After running a full system scan, clearing out my IE and Windows Register files and rebooted several times--it still shows up in my Task Manager.

 

Any one have any ideas or had this happen to them recently?

Thanks Allen for the suggestion. Per your comment, I’m running Windows 7 Home Premium Edition and its the 32-bit version. I don’t have any other anti-virus or anti-malware software on my system beyond what came with Norton 360 Premium Edition (Version 4). I guess I should have just upgraded to Norton IS 2010 like I was originally planning to do. I have the MS Defender turned off since 360 is suppose to do the job? Questionable. So you say I need to download the MalwareBytes program? Odd that I have to go outside of Norton’s products to possibly find malware on my system. If it does find something–I’m going to be asking for my money back from Norton. Thank you, Brian

Hi Brian,

 

Thanks for the update. Please allow me to explain something about the suggestion to run Malware Bytes. There is NO single anti-virus, anti-malware utility which is the end all and be all of virus and malware detection. There is no single software program which does it all or catches it all.

 

Successfully fighting virus's and other malware is a comprehensive program which includes the right tools (various software) and even more importantly proper vigilance and safe internet practices of us, the end user. One wrong click and and you could give a malicious program the chance to install itself on to your system.

 

But most importantly there are new virus's and other malware being written all the time. Companies like Symantec, McAfee and so many others are in a constant batlle against the bad guys. Unfortunately the reality of malware is that they are ahead of the curve, in some ways they have the advantage because they are constantly inventing new ways to circumvent the protection offered by your anti-virus software.

 

The reality is that this puts Symantec and other companies in a position where they have to be reactive to new malware. Symantec has a consistent track record of reacting very quickly to new threats and constantly scores very high in terms of the over all protection offered to you, the end user.

 

Combine this with the fact that there are many methods of detecting various kinds of malware, some methods are better at catching certain things than others.

 

You would be doing yourself a disservice to think that this applies only to Symantec. Not one single company has ever written software which catches everything.

 

You will find this to be a consistent statement of all veteran contiributors throughout the NIS and N360 forums, not to mention any other anti-virus support forum you might visit online. Perform your own searches here on the NIS and N360 forums and you will find this to be the case.

 

Another thing I wanted to mention. It is never advised to run more than one real-time anti-virus software on your computer because they will in all liklihood interfere with each other and actually create more problems than they solve. The free version of Malware Bytes (which I recommended you run) is a passive scanner only so it co-exists peacefully with N360.

 

That said, my goal is to help make sure you don't have any problem on your computer, so yes I recommend running Malware Bytes. Malware Bytes does indeed catch things sometimes which might not have been detected at that time using N360 or NIS but the same could be said in reverse even more often.

 

Hope this helps explain why you see this recommendation frequently on the Symantec forums.

 

Thanks

Allen