Microsoft Is About To End Internet Explorer 8, 9 And 10 Support

So long, older versions of Internet Explorer. From next week, Microsoft is cutting support for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10, meaning the only consumers getting security updates from now on are those running version 11.

There's a lot of people out there who aren't up to date. According to Netmarketshare, the disruption to support is set to hit around 20 percent of global desktop web users.

It's one step closer to the end of the road for Internet Explorer, as Microsoft looks to the new Edge browser as the way forward. Launching with Windows 10, Edge is a new web browser designed from the ground-up to work with modern web technologies.

Windows 10 itself is free for a limited time for those still on Windows 7 or 8.1. Those with no intention of upgrading their operating system will have to make sure Internet Explorer is upgraded to version 11 by checking the software update system.

It's been a long road for Internet Explorer. Since its launch in 1995, the software has been subject to numerous controversies. Version 4 integrated the browser with Microsoft Windows, bundling it in with store-bought copies. This led to numerous antitrust cases, notably "United States v. Microsoft."

During its heyday, Internet Explorer dominated the market. At its height in the early 2000s, Internet Explorer was used by over 90 percent of desktop web surfers. In December 2015, that number stood at 48.57 percent according to Netmarketshare.

Microsoft was routinely criticized for ignoring web standards during Internet Explorer's height, something its new Edge browser rectifies. While some may mourn the loss of Internet Explorer, scores of web developers will be pleased to leave those days behind.