Microsoft starting silent upgrades of Internet Explorer.

[nihil]

Personally I run File Hippo Update Checker and Secunia PSI. I don't like things updating themselves as they always seem to want to do it when I am in the middle of something. When File Hippo tells me there is a browser update I just open the browser and let it get on with it. That works for Chrome, FF and Opera. In the past IE just updated with the regular patch Tuesday stuff, so I guess they are separating the IE and Windows updates?

I am also wary of running updates when something else is running in case there is a conflict.

If you want Windows 8 you have to download and install it deliberately. It doesn't update, it bundles your existing OS into a save folder and you can't use it without reinstalling.

This is Windows 8 and I am running FireFox. It installed with no problems or comments.

It sounds like you have some malware there?

I do run IE as some of my applications want it to update themselves............I do have to run it deliberately though.