Internet Explorer, once the most used web browser in the world, will be buried on June 15, 2022.
Microsoft officially ends support for its flagship web browser, Internet Explorer, today, June 15, 2022.
Internet Explorer, also known as IE or MSIE, was first launched in 1995 as part of a package of add-ons for Windows 95: the first Windows with the famous “home” button.
Between 1995 and 2013, the multimillion-dollar software company released 11 versions of its web browsing software; for many in the world, it was the first introduction to the World Wide Web.
Its latest version was Internet Explorer 11, released in 2013 before being replaced by Microsoft Edge.
(Al Jazeera)
The rise and fall of Internet Explorer
For most of the early 2000s, Internet Explorer was the most widely used web browser, reaching a peak of approximately 95 percent market share in 2003.
One of the reasons for the epic rise of Internet Explorer was that it was the default web browser for Microsoft’s Windows operating system, which allowed it to win the first browser war against its rival Netscape Navigator.
Since then, its share of usage has decreased with the release of Firefox (2002) and Google Chrome (2008).
Internet Explorer market share fell below 50 percent in 2010, and in 2012, Google Chrome surpassed Internet Explorer as the world’s most used web browser. In early 2022, Internet Explorer users accounted for less than one percent of web users on all platforms according to StatCounter.
(Al Jazeera)
Google Chrome – The most popular web browser today
Today, six out of 10 Internet users browse the web with Google Chrome.
In almost every country in the world, Google Chrome is the most used browser, according to StatCounter.
Apple’s Safari browser is the second most popular browser in the world with 19 percent, followed by Firefox with 4 percent.
(Al Jazeera)
For those who want to keep Internet Explorer a little longer, in a technical FAQ, Microsoft noted that it will only remove Internet Explorer on Windows 10 20H2 and later. Affected operating systems will include Windows 8.1, Windows 7 Extended Security Updates, and some versions of Windows 10 Server.
Other current users, individuals, or businesses are being asked to migrate their systems and websites to Microsoft Edge or another browser. Some companies may use legacy applications or websites that are only compatible with Internet Explorer. Although Edge has IE mode, these applications and sites may not work as expected.