Thrust of Microsoft towards Windows 10 continues, Microsoft is ending support for Windows 8, as well as older versions of its Internet Explorer web browser, IE 8, IE 9, and IE 10 today. This doesn’t mean the software instantly becomes non-functional, but that it will longer be updated with bug fixes or other security patches to potentially expose a good portion of online users to malware, if they choose not to upgrade, Microsoft warns.
Microsoft in an announcement, said “Beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for supported OS will receive technical supports and security updates”.
“Internet Explorer 11 is the last version of Internet Explorer, and will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.”
As specified by TechCrunch, IE 8 still represents 20% of the web browser market. In addition, users on Windows 8 will have to upgrade to 8.1 if they want to continue receiving important security updates that can protect them from possible threats and risks. According to sources, Windows 8 still runs on 30-40 million devices. Support for Windows 8.1 will end until Jan. 10, 2023 and users can upgrade to it for free.
With the end of support for Windows 8 and IE there will be no more security patches or technical support. IE 11, however, continues to be supported, and Microsoft recommends first upgrading to IE 11 before removing IE 8, 9 and 10. Windows 8.1, which came out more than two years ago, will continue to be supported until January 10, 2023.
Microsoft has been heavily pushing its newer operating system Windows 10, and said recently that the OS is now running on over 200 million devices. However, the company’s larger goal is to increase that figure to over a billion in a few years’ time. In part, getting there will require overcoming users’ inertia.
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