That is true as far as it goes, but if you don't change your default browser, IE will launch whenever you click on a hot link. Download Firefox and install it. When you launch it for the first time you will get a notice that asks if you want to set Firefox as your default browser. Check the box, and you have for the most part throttled Microsoft's Insecure Explorer...
And while you're there, download Thunderbird for a better email client than Outlook Distressed ever dreamed of being...