Effective January Tuesday, January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer support Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10. After the 12th, the only IE that will get any love and support is Internet Explorer 11.
In a statement, Microsoft said, “…the most current version will continue to follow the specific support?life cycle policy for the operating system on which it is installed. Internet Explorer 11 will be supported for the life of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.” Microsoft urged users to upgrade for a faster and better browsing experience. That’s because after the 12th, these browsers will be more vulnerable to malware, viruses, ID theft, and just about every computer tech ill imaginable. So yes, shutting down older browsers will force users to get on Internet Explorer 11. But it means web designers will no longer have to struggle to make sure older IE models can handle newer Windows versions, especially Windows 10. The transition shouldn’t be complicated. Many home PCs ‘Automated Updates’. That will upgrade you to Windows 11 by itself. Or you can get automatic updates by clicking Check for Updates on the Windows Update part of your control panel. Microsoft didn’t plan this decision just overnight. It was in the works as early as August 2014. And IE version 8-10 use has declined every since.
And competition has been on the increase. Let’s face it, Internet Explorer altogether has been on the decrease. More consumers are using browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome. Don’t think Microsoft is oblivious to that. I’m sure that plays a role. They hope IE explorer will do them better (between you and me, I doubt it). I strongly urge you to heed Microsoft’s warning. Remember when Windows XP was shut down? I remember how many people procrastinated. It wasn’t long before the viruses and malware made them wish they had taken proper action. Fortunately, many of you should get upgraded automatically. If not, do what you can get upgraded, that is if you’re even using IE for a web browser. If you are, then why?