Microsoft to officially end Internet Explorer in 2021. Here’s what you need to know.
Microsoft has announced that it will no longer support the last remaining supported version of Internet Explorer from August 2021, effectively killing off one of the Internet’s oldest and well known web browsers.
That means that Internet Explorer 11 will no longer be supported for the general public and will no longer receive important updates. The Microsoft Edge Legacy browser will also not be supported after March 2021.
Helpful tip: A web browser (like Internet Explorer) is a program on a computer that lets someone surf the Internet and use many types of online services like web mail, social media and cloud based programs. Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera are also web browsers.
While Internet Explorer’s reputation may have gone downhill over the last decade, its demise will still be particularly poignant for some. Unlike Microsoft’s different operating systems that come and go every five or six years, Internet Explorer has been around ever since Windows 95.
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That means for most, it was the first Internet browser they ever used, pre-dating its longstanding desktop competitors Firefox and Google Chrome. And while the browser has certainly had its ups and downs over the course of its 11 versions (perhaps more downs than ups) it has certainly cemented its place into the history books, with its iconic blue e logo long being a staple presence on countless desktops across the world.
So what does this mean for the end user?
If you’re using Windows 10 on your PC or laptop, then probably not a lot, since you most likely have Internet Explorer’s successor, Microsoft Edge Chromium, installed.
However, if you’re using a device with an older operating system, and you haven’t upgraded Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge Chromium (despite the numerous prompts you no doubt would have seen) then it may be time to upgrade (it’s free.)
Still not sure? Check the logo of the Microsoft installed browser on your computer. If it’s a blue e, then you are running either Internet Explorer or Microsoft’s Edge Legacy browser, both of which will see their support end in 2021.
If the logo resembles a blue and green wave icon, then you’re running the Microsoft Edge Chromium browser, and there’s no need to worry.
Here’s a handy GIF.
If you don’t use Microsoft’s Internet browser, and use Chrome, Firefox or another third party browser instead, you may still want to upgrade (or uninstall completely) the Microsoft browser if it’s out-of-date to be completely safe.
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What happens if I don’t upgrade?
If you continue to use out-dated browsers, you’re likely notice that various online services and products will stop working. For example, Microsoft have already announced that their various cloud products including Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 apps will no longer be supported in Internet Explorer and are likely to soon stop working correctly.
But perhaps more importantly is security. Since Internet Explorer will no longer receive security fixes, it will become a target for cyber crooks looking to exploit vulnerabilities that arise in Internet Explorer that they know won’t be fixed.
Cyber crooks will often wait for once popular software (like browsers or operating systems) to reach the end of their support lifecycle before launching attacks on those that are still using them.
If it’s time for you to upgrade, then you can get the latest Edge browser from Microsoft here.
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