Productivity Tools

Internet Explorer end of life

By Pierre, on May 17, 2021, updated on November 27, 2022 - 2 min read

Microsoft Teams has officially annouced that the Internet Explorer browser on Windows will no longer be supported as of August 17 2021. After a long and successful run, the once-popular browser has fallen out of favor with most web developers and the general public. The move to end support for Internet Explorer is a major step for Microsoft, but it’s one that most consider necessary as the browser struggles to keep up with modern standards.

The first version of Internet Explorer was released in 1995, and it quickly became the most popular browser on the Windows market. It had a few glitches, but it was good at the time and it was free – an attractive combination. As time went on, however, Internet Explorer fell out of favor and was ultimately surpassed by Mozilla, Chrome, and Safari. Internet Explorer is still used today, but it has fewer users than any of its rivals.

Microsoft Windows OSLatest stable versionSupport
Windows 3.1x, NT 3.515.01995-2001
Windows 955.5 SP21995-2002
Windows NT 4.0, 98, 2000, ME6.0 SP11996–2010
Windows XP, Server 20038.0.6001.187022001–2015
Windows Vista, Server 20089.0.1952006–2020
Windows 7, Server 2008 R211.0.1702009–2020
Windows 8, Windows 10, Server 2012 or later11.0.2202012–2021

Internet Explorer’s popularity has been declining steadily since the late 2000s, and Microsoft has struggled to keep up with modern web standards. As a result, Internet Explorer is now considered insecure and incompatible with most web applications. Microsoft has attempted to keep Internet Explorer up-to-date, but it’s become clear that these efforts are not enough.

To combat this, Microsoft is withdrawing support for the browser and will be encouraging customers to switch to Microsoft Edge or one of the many available alternatives. Microsoft will continue to provide security updates, but these will only be available for Microsoft Edge.

The end of Internet Explorer is a big deal for customers, but it’s a good thing for the internet as a whole. The free browser helped kick off the modern internet, but the technology landscape has changed dramatically since its heyday. Now it’s time for Internet Explorer to retire gracefully, and give Microsoft Edge a chance to shine.

image

Prevent Internet Explorer Security Risks

As Microsoft continues to withdraw support for its aging browser, many businesses are left wondering how to best address the security risk posed by unsupported Internet Explorer. Luckily, there are several simple steps you can take to mitigate this risk. The first is to contact your software vendor to determine which web applications are compatible with Internet Explorer and which will be directly impacted by Microsoft ending support. If you’re running a business, this is a quick and easy first step. If your business is dependent on an unsupported web application, you may need to switch to a different browser.

Is it risky to continue using Internet Explorer?

Using Internet Explorer after it has reached end of life poses a real security risk to your network. But we understand there are certain scenarios where it is not possible to immediately switch due to compatibility issues with business software solutions. If you’re not ready to give up IE, we recommend taking some additional precautions. One option is to isolate any devices that pose a security risk on your network.

Pierre