Warning – Goodbye Microsoft Explorer
Published on December 7th, 2015
Warning – Goodbye Microsoft Explorer
Like an old pair of boots that you became emotionally attached to. Like that pair of jeans that had long ceased being useful, fashionable or practical but you couldn’t quite let go, until now.
All but the current version of the once “all-mighty” Microsoft Explorer browser will become end of support on January 12, 2016. It’s time to let go.
What does the end of Explorer support mean to you?
From January 12, 2016, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer (Explorer 11) will receive technical support. This includes bug fixes and security patch updates. Internet Explorer 11 is the last version of this once iconic product. No more Explorer browsers to follow.
Why is this happening?
Firstly the internet now requires faster more dynamic browser, one not anchored in the old school Microsoft operating environment. As a company making its living from the internet and supporting clients using the internet, if we get a support call for something not working properly online, the first fact to check is what browser are you using.
The natural suspicion is if it’s a browser issue, it is far more likely to be an Explorer issue. You have heard of racial profiling. Well in the internet space, we have browser profiling.
Secondly unlike the newer browsers such as Google Chrome which forces users to update to a later version, Internet explorer does not. Which means Microsoft has so many dated old versions of Explorer. It’s a nightmare for developers to support.
A lot of effort is required to make internet applications run with old versions of explorer. It’s hard to know where to begin and end. Does a company support old versions of Explorer 9 or 10 and draw the line. You can bet once you do this, someone will still be running an old version of Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8. And will scream discrimination.
It’s become such an expensive nightmare that even Microsoft has given up and is throwing in the towel on January 16, 2016.
What does it mean for my business?
Make sure you put in place a migration strategy for your team and clients.
- Preform an internet browser audit for internal and external internet applications.
- Check to see if you have any Microsoft related products or third-party applications that depend on the older versions of Explorer to run in your office and company eco system.
- And put a fix in place ASAP.
Talk to Webtron for assistance. We’re only a phone call away.