I have had great problems with both IE 7 and 8 and have stopped to use them all together.
When anything nasty is received, we can almost be sure it comes from the IE browser.
Microsoft might be capable to do good work....but it also seems that most people who make fuzz on the net loves Microsoft's browser to deliver them.
I will recommend to use Firefox as you have it installed, as you say..you have none, or few problems with it...the same goes for me....sometimes when a link ask specific for IE browser my whole system freeze, not just on MB, so maybe it is IE..maybe it is my secure program that do it...if I could, I would have removed it altogether
If you will use Firefox for the email link...just put it up as main browser..in Firefox...go tools..option...advanced...and mark "Always check......"