The word on the street is that consumers may not have a choice on upgrading to Internet Explorer 7 when Microsoft decides to release it.  CNet is reporting that Microsoft will push the browser update as a "high priority" update via the automatic update system much in the same way it pushed the WGA anti-piracy tool earlier this year.

"The justification, of course is the significant security enhancements in IE 7" says Gary Schare, Microsoft's director of IE product management.

However, more savvy users will be able to block the update by either un-checking it from the list of updates to be installed or by downloading a special tool to block the automatic delivery of the update.  This tool is mainly targeted at enterprises who wish to control the flow of patches into their environment so they can be more thoroughly tested.