14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft will pull the plug on old Internet Explorer versions on January 12, which marks the first Patch Tuesday rollout of the year, so users are strongly recommended to update to version 11 as soon as possible.
Basically, all Internet Explorer versions prior to 11 will no longer receive updates and security patches after January 12, and Microsoft says that installing this particular release is the only way to remain on the safe side and be sure that no exploits that could take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities exist.
Internet Explorer 11 is currently the default browser on Windows 7, 8.1, and 10, and is said to provide “improved security, increased performance, better backward compatibility and support for modern web standards,” as the company itself announces.
No more security updates
This milestone is particularly critical to companies that are using old Internet Explorer versions to access enterprise apps and services, so IT admins should mark the day in their calendars.
“After January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important,” Microsoft says.
On Windows 10, Microsoft advises users to make the switch to Edge, the company’s new browser that’s believed to provide even better security and support for new web standards than Internet Explorer.
Edge will soon get even more features and leave Internet Explorer behind, such as support for extensions that were designed for Google Chrome.
Microsoft hasn’t yet said anything about potentially discontinuing Internet Explorer once and for all, given the fact that Edge is available, but this could take place sometime in the future if the new browser gains ground.