Should I be installing these optional updates?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4499178/windows-7-update-kb4499178

and

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4505050/cumulative-update-for-internet-explorer

Last night there was some "important" update that had already downloaded and was waiting to install. It said it was released in 2012 but now I can't remember what it was for. I tried to pull up the information page on it and there was none available. I "hid" it and was going to look at it again today but it is no longer there. When I click to "restore hidden updates" it says I have no hidden updates. It has me kind of freaked out!

Thanks.

I don't see any issues with either one. In particular anything that keeps IE 11 updated should be installed. The browser is so old that it is no longer considered particularly safe. So, keep IE 11 updated if nothing else. If you don't use it, then I'd not worry about it too much.

The description to this one says there is a conflict with McAfee.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4499178/windows-7-update-kb4499178

As long as you don't have McAfee the update shouldn't cause a problem.

And as Draclvr said, it's a good idea to keep IE up to date.
You may not use it, but it's integrated into Windows.

Thank you Draclvr and Jenny100.