Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10
Those who don't upgrade will be more susceptible to malicious attacks.
Although PC users love to hate Microsoft's Internet Explorer, the software is credited with helping millions of people enjoy their first taste of the web. The browser is not as popular as it once was, but Microsoft has continued to support older versions in order to safeguard users. For people using Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10, however, that is no longer the case, as the company has now withdrawn technical support and security updates for the aging browsers.
The move shouldn't come as much of a shock: Microsoft served its first End of Life notice back in July 2014. The browser isn't going away completely, as the company will continue to support Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge, the latter of which comes embedded within Windows 10 and offers integration with Cortana. If you decide you want to keep using the older versions, Microsoft warns that you will be more susceptible to viruses, malware and other malicious software that can steal your data or hijack your PC.
According to NetMarketShare statistics, one in five internet users (19.8 percent) were still using Internet Explorer 8, 9 or 10 in December. With today's End of Life notice and the use of nagging update notifications, Microsoft hopes it can skew those figures and boost the share of its newer browsers. However, there is also a very real chance that users will ditch the browser altogether and see what Google and Mozilla have to offer.
