Update: 1:41PM Are you using an old version of Internet Explorer? Now is the time to upgrade or switch to another browser because Microsoft is phasing out support for Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10 on January 12.
The shift will basically mean the end of security updates and technical help for versions of Internet Explorer other than 11, the latest iteration.
That could leave users clinging to the old versions more vulnerable to cyberattacks against their computers because problems with the software that are discovered down the line won’t be fixed.
“Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important,” Microsoft says on a web page about the change.
There are a few exceptions: For example, Microsoft will continue to provide support for Internet Explorer 9 on its older Windows Vista after the deadline because it’s the latest compatible version for that operating system. But for the most part, users of old browsers will be on their own.
This change shouldn’t be a surprise: Microsoft first announced the cutoff was coming back in August 2014.
Still, the shift will have a major impact on Internet users: By some estimates that means hundreds of millions of users will need to upgrade or be left at greater digital risk.
Microsoft is offering help for enterprise customers – organisations with more than 500 employees – looking to upgrade browsers before the cutoff.
But most everyday users still running versions Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10 can expect to get a final “End-of-Life” software update on the 12th that will include a prompt to upgrade their browser.
