Microsoft to Discontinue Support for Old Internet Explorer Versions

In an attempt to push users toward the most recent installment of Internet Explorer (IE 11), Microsoft has announced that, as of January 2016, all older versions of Internet Explorer will reach their end-of-support date. This means discontinued patching and security update support, putting all who refuse the upgrade at risk.

As with all good things, they must eventually come to an end. For some, this might be a breath of relief, while for others it may seem like a bit of a letdown. Believe it or not, some people are still opting to run the less secure Windows XP when they could update to something much nicer and more secure. But, according to Microsoft, on January 12, 2016, "only the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates."

Though most older versions of Internet Explorer have long since been eradicated from public use, Internet Explorer 8 remains one of the more popular versions of the web browser. According to NetMarketShare.com, worldwide browser usage on desktop operating systems are:

• Internet Explorer 8: 21.56%
• Internet Explorer 9: 9.06%
• Internet Explorer 10: 6.26%
• Internet Explorer 11: 16.78%
• Mozilla Firefox: 9.27%
• Google Chrome: 14.80%

These numbers do not reflect mobile OS usage, but as you can see, Internet Explorer 8 is the most widely used version of Internet Explorer. Windows XP may have reached its end-of-support date in April 2014, but Internet Explorer 8 is still going strong on a number of machines (both XP and non-XP).

This change in policy won't just affect IE 8 users, either. Internet Explorer 9, while being supported on Windows Vista, will reach its end-of-support in 2017. Internet Explorer 10 will also only be available on Windows Server 2012, leaving Windows users with a decision; continue to run unsecured web browsers, or upgrade to a more recent operating system. According to ZDNet, 98 percent of all Windows users will be required to have Internet Explorer 11, if they desire to use Microsoft's web browser with security updates and patches.

This puts some businesses in tricky situations, as some of their applications may not operate without older versions of Internet Explorer. Microsoft offers an enterprise mode for IE 11, which lets you access backward compatibility for your legacy applications while you upgrade to more modern technology. There might also be wiggle room for businesses to receive patches, similar to the Windows XP deals some businesses have made (for a hefty fee, of course), but it would be much more economical in the long run to just upgrade away from your legacy software.

If your business needs help keeping operations constant while upgrades are applied, or if your business needs consultation concerning how to move to more modern solutions, contact Heart of Texas Network Consultants. We can apply updates and security patches to your systems remotely so your network will always operate at maximum security. For more information, call us at (254) 848-7100.