Internet Explorer (IE) no longer has the reputation it once had but is still used by millions around the world, including in enterprise systems where no alternative has been installed. Often, people continue to use dated versions of the browser and don’t install new versions, an issue that could have serious consequences for millions of users from next week.
Next Tuesday, Microsoft will end support for all but the latest release of IE. Version 8 was first launched in 2009, alongside Windows 7, and was replaced by IE 9 in 2011. IE 10 launched in 2012 alongside Windows 8 but is now over three years old and itself superseded by Internet Explorer 11.
From January 12, IE 8, 9 and 10 will continue to function but won’t receive any more updates or critical security patches. Next time a serious vulnerability is found in Internet Explorer, users will be left unprotected and without a secure browser.
Microsoft recommends that home PC owners update their web browser to Internet Explorer 11, released in 2013. This version will remain supported and is installed by default in Windows 8.1. Windows 7 and 8 users can upgrade to Internet Explorer 11 but users of older Windows versions will need to look to third-party browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. IE11 is also installed in Windows 10 but Microsoft recommends its new Edge browser is used instead.
On Tuesday, Microsoft will be releasing one more update for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10. It will add in a notification, warning all users that the browser is now viewed as end of life and will no longer receive any further updates.
Microsoft advised users to “take action” now, saying: “After January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important.”
Microsoft is assisting companies using legacy versions of Internet Explorer to ensure they can upgrade to a modern browser. Businesses with over 500 employees are eligible to receive support in moving away from discontinued IE versions, whether it to be IE11 or a third-party rival.
The end of support for IE 8, 9 and 10 will come as an inconvenience to many users but the browsers are out of date and don’t support many of the modern features of newer web browsers. Despite the benefits of using a recently-released browser, current statistics suggest almost 20 percent of desktop Internet users access the web with one of the affected Internet Explorer versions though.
