Microsoft to Stop Support for Older Versions of Internet Explorer in 2016

This might come as bad news for users who have resisted change and refused to upgrade from older versions of the Internet Explorer (IE) browser. From January 12, 2016, Microsoft will stop support for older versions of Internet Explorer. Via the MSDN blog, the tech giant announced its intention to push more users to run a modern browser (of course, Microsoft means the latest version of Internet Explorer).

In the same blog Microsoft outlines the combinations of operating systems and browser version combinations that won't be supported from that day: Windows Vista SP2 and Internet Explorer 9, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Internet Explorer 9, Windows 7 SP1 and Internet Explorer 11, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1and Internet Explorer 11, Windows 8.1 and Internet Explorer 11, Windows Server 2012 and Internet Explorer 10, and Windows Server 2012 R2 and Internet Explorer 11.

Microsoft further states, "After January 12, 2016, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. For example, customers using Internet Explorer 8, Internet Explorer 9, or Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 7 SP1 should migrate to Internet Explorer 11 to continue receiving security updates and technical support."

ZDNet interestingly notes that while Microsoft will drop support for the five-year-old IE 8 completely on that date, a Net Applications survey shows that IE 8 is still the single-most popular browser version worldwide, and installed on 21.56 percent of all PCs running Windows OS.

This decision will affect businesses still stuck to older versions of IE who might have to get a move on from their affinity for legacy software.