Also, if it makes you feel any better (or worse, perhaps), DEP is not a function of Internet Explorer. See here, http://en.wikipedia.org/w...cution_prevention. I would specifically take a close read of the Compatibility section.
Basically, it sounds to me like you got tagged with a hidden extension in IE -- maybe you clicked Ok when you shouldn't have, maybe it did a stealth drive-by install, who knows? But it really sounds like you've got some malware infecting IE, there. Or that IE is itself corrupted, but this is far less likely.
As Rev suggested, try another browser. If the problem continues, there might be an underlying OS problem. If it goes away, then it's something specifically with IE. And either way, update your AV and anti-malware software and let it do a thorough scan.
If you don't have antivirus and antimalware, you need to get some, stat. I recommend either avast! (www.avast.com) or AVG (free.avg.com) for the first, and Spybot - Search and Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/en/) for the second. Those are just my preferences, I'm sure others can and will speak up with theirs.
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs
Basically, it sounds to me like you got tagged with a hidden extension in IE -- maybe you clicked Ok when you shouldn't have, maybe it did a stealth drive-by install, who knows? But it really sounds like you've got some malware infecting IE, there. Or that IE is itself corrupted, but this is far less likely.
As Rev suggested, try another browser. If the problem continues, there might be an underlying OS problem. If it goes away, then it's something specifically with IE. And either way, update your AV and anti-malware software and let it do a thorough scan.
If you don't have antivirus and antimalware, you need to get some, stat. I recommend either avast! (www.avast.com) or AVG (free.avg.com) for the first, and Spybot - Search and Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/en/) for the second. Those are just my preferences, I'm sure others can and will speak up with theirs.
--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs