Internet Explorer Bites the Dust Next Tuesday: Microsoft Ending an Era of IE

Microsoft has announced that the next round of patches coming January 12th will be the last for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10, and are encouraging users to upgrade to the latest and greatest hits, IE 11 or Microsoft Edge. So what does this mean for those still using the old versions?

Despite the fact Internet Explorer 11 is still getting updates, it won't be around for too much longer. It's considered a legacy product, which basically means "Microsoft is only keeping it around because so many people use it." So IE 11 isn't planned to be kept around any longer than the company absolutely must. Considering the browser has often been called "Internet Exploder" (I heard that even back in my early college years), it may be time to let this time worn software slip away to oblivion of internet history.

According to The Verge, the upcoming patch "will deliver the last few bug fixes, as well as an "End of Life" notification telling users to upgrade to IE 11 or Microsoft Edge - the company's successor to Internet Explorer, built for Windows 10."

So what does this mean for the average user?

Upgrade to something newer soon. IE has had a lot of security issues over the years due to the fact it's a hot target for hackers because so many people use it since it's been the default browser on PC's for many, many years. Every computer I've had in the last 10 years has had it pre-equipped. With the lack of updates and new security features, users will become more and more vulnerable to hacks, spyware, and more as nothing will be available to combat a growing tide of exploits. There may be a few community patches, but considering IE's lack of popularity, it doesn't seem likely, especially not for long.

There are plenty of good browsers out there, and if you don't like Google Chrome (I do), you can always try Mozilla, Microsoft Edge, or another free browser, but do be careful in what you choose, as some "free" web browsers may collect more information than you want to give you.

So what do you think about the end of Internet Explorer? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below!