Microsoft no longer updating versions of Internet Explorer

Well how about spring cleaning in January? Microsoft allows service packs to be delayed for up to 24 months before they stop developing security updates. However, Microsoft added that enterprise customers with more than 500 employees can contact the company directly for help in deploying updated versions of Edge or the latest Internet Explorer.

If you’re still using Windows 8, you’ll need to upgrade immediately to 8.1 or 10. If you update to Windows 8.1, you’ll be back to getting support and security updates.

Microsoft began warning users in 2014 about the January 12 IE support cutoff date. While the two browsers come with their flaws, they are a substantial improvement from Windows 8.

You may have noticed the distinct lack of Windows 8 in the above list. While the 8 to 8.1 upgrade was free, the server equivalent-Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012 R2-was not.

As for Windows 8, it’s not exactly insecure, at least as far as software goes. You can also check for updates by accessing to the control panel and clicking on “Windows Update”.

Of course if you are running Windows 8 and want to stay protected, you have a lot of options. The idea was inherently flawed and ultimately failed.

There can be only one. It’ bears special mention here because the highest version of Internet Explorer that works on Windows Vista is IE 9 – so that version will continue to be supported on Vista until 2017. If there is, then it’s 8.1, and if not then you have 8.

Microsoft this week ended support for almost-all versions of its preinstalled web browser, Internet Explorer.

Companies still using older versions of the software for business reasons can disable these prompts via the registry. Additionally, Edge can launch internet Explorer 11 for sites that need better backward compatibility, according to Microsoft.

The firm also said that businesses with application requirements for older web browsers should block browsing from vulnerable systems to limit problems that tend to arise during the lunch hour when employees start exploring the web. But that support won’t run for much longer. Support for Windows Vista will continue until April 11, 2017, thanks to Microsoft’s generous 10-year support policy for all Windows versions.

Another patch fixes six vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office.