Internet Explorer has been around since the early days of the internet and was previously the most popular internet browser. However, a lot has changed since its launch in 1995.

With the usage of Internet Explorer on the decline and the advancement of its more responsive web browser, Edge, Microsoft is no longer providing support or updates for older versions of the browser.

This means you’ll need to change to one of the modern browsers to stay protected from potential secrurity threats.

Confused? Here’s the low-down on what this means for your business…

• Since 12th January 2016, Internet Explorer has only received security updates and tech support for the latest version of the browser, which is currently IE 11.
• The browser is no longer being updated for new web technologies and will only be supported for the life span of Windows 7, 8.1 and 10, which is looking to be 2025.
• Internet Explorer users will get a degraded web experience compared to a modern browser as new web standards are not being implemented.
• The market share for Internet Explorer is declining rapidly each month as users switch to more responsive browsers.

Microsoft is now pushing its more innovative Edge browser and gradually phasing out Internet Explorer altogether. The benefits of Edge include faster page loading time, better user experience and extended battery life on mobile devices (not as draining on device battery as older browsers).

As an internet user, if you are running an older version of Internet Explorer (earlier than 11) you should upgrade to IE 11 immediately. You could be putting your device at risk of viruses, spyware and other malicious software which can access and damage your data.

As a business, if your website currently supports Internet Explorer, many web developers are now phasing out the testing and support of this browser as it will eventually become obsolete. If you have apps running on Internet Explorer, you should consider upgrading them to the latest technologies.

Google Chrome is by far the most popular web browser with a current market share of 62% (StatCounter). As most internet users now browse the web via Google Chrome, it’s vital that your website supports this browser and stays up-to-date with any new developments. Chrome can be used on any device and provides fast, secure browsing.

Safari is another of the most popular web browsers and currently holds 15% of the market share. The browser is used as default on all Apple devices, however, is limited to Apple users only. Like Chrome, the browser offers multi-device usage through iCloud and is hot on privacy with many built-in features.

Since its update in 2018, Firefox is faster than ever before, providing speeds comparable to Chrome. In a similar fashion to Google Chrome, Firefox allows you to add browser extensions to customise your web experience. It’s a browser that’s fully invested in privacy and currently only holds a surprising 4% of the market share.

Microsoft’s current and most responsive web browser, Edge, will eventually replace its predecessor, Internet Explorer. Only available on Windows 10 and above, Edge is Microsoft’s forward-thinking browser and is fully integrated with Windows 10 and Cortana, making it the best browsing experience for Windows devices. Edge currently only holds 2% of the market share.