Internet Explorer (IE) was once the most widely used web browser, but its usage has declined significantly in recent years as other more modern browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have overtaken it. Many wonder if IE is still a safe browser to use in 2023 or if its age makes it more vulnerable and obsolete.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that Internet Explorer is no longer recommended for regular web browsing. Microsoft ended support for IE 11 back in June 2022, meaning that it will no longer receive security updates and bug fixes. Running outdated and unpatched software leaves users susceptible to hackers exploiting vulnerabilities that will never get fixed. All major websites and web apps have also stopped actively supporting IE. So for both security and site compatibility reasons, continuing to use IE as your everyday browser is risky.
IE Usage and Support
At its peak popularity in the early 2000s, Internet Explorer commanded over 90% of the browser market share. But most recent statistics show global IE usage at less than 1% as of 2022.
Microsoft first announced that IE 11 would be retired and go out of support in August 2021. This support officially ended on June 15, 2022 for all consumer versions of Windows 10. The only exceptions are enterprise Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) editions of Windows 10, which will have IE 11 support until January 2025.
With IE no longer supported on up-to-date Windows versions, it will not receive fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities and risks after June 2022. Running unsupported software often leads to performance issues, compatibility problems, and security holes. Also, most major websites and web apps have deprecated IE 11 support at this point, meaning their sites and services may not work properly or at all on IE.
IE Security Risks
Using the outdated IE 11 browser can pose a number of security risks:
- No patches for vulnerabilities – Now that support has ended, any new bugs or exploits found in IE will go unfixed by Microsoft, leaving risk of attack.
- Outdated web standards support – Modern sites utilize newer web standards like HTML5, CSS3 and ECMAScript 6 that IE lacks full support for.
- Weak default security settings – IE has weaker security configurations out of the box compared to modern browsers.
- Lack of sandboxing – IE processes display content in-browser rather than in isolated sandboxes like Chrome and Firefox do.
Research shows that outdated and unsupported software is dangerous. One study found 100% of enterprises still running IE experienced a legacy browser-related security breach. Flaws like memory corruption bugs are abundant in IE yet go unpatched. Using IE with other old plug-ins like Flash or Java further compounds the risk.
Safer Alternatives to IE
Rather than exposing yourself to risk with IE, experts overwhelmingly recommend switching to a modern, supported browser. Top options include:
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft’s own successor to IE is Edge, first released in 2015. Edge has the same rendering engine as Chrome yet is designed to work seamlessly with Windows 10 and 11. Edge provides a secure, compatible browsing experience and is highly recommended for Windows users over IE.
Google Chrome
Google Chrome has dominated browser market share for years thanks to its speed, simplicity, security, and web standards support. Chrome issues regular browser updates to fix vulnerabilities, stays current with all web technologies, and runs content in sandboxed processes.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is a popular open source browser focused on user privacy and security. Mozilla is diligent about patching Firefox and has robust security configurations turned on by default. Firefox also supports the very latest web standards.
Apple Safari
Safari is the default browser for Mac, iPhone and iPad devices. Its tight integration with Apple’s OS offers a speedy browsing experience. Safari utilizes modern web technology standards and Apple issues frequent security updates for it.
What Are the Risks of Continuing to Use IE?
Here are some of the biggest risks you expose yourself or your business to by continuing to use Internet Explorer as your browser:
- Security threats – Exploits that arise will forever go unpatched.
- Compatibility issues – Many sites don’t work right or at all on IE these days.
- Support problems – You’re unlikely to get help directly from Microsoft or sites with IE issues.
- Feature limitations – Lack of support for new web technologies like HTML5.
- Productivity lags – Outdated browsers negatively impact workforce agility and efficiency.
- Legal liability – Insecure software increases vulnerability to data breaches, which can lead to lawsuits and regulatory fines if personal or financial data is compromised.
- Reputation damage – An organization still relying on IE long after support ceased may be perceived as behind-the-times or negligent on security.
When Is It Acceptable to Still Use IE?
There are a handful of scenarios where using IE could still be warranted for the time being:
- Internal sites – IE may be required to access legacy internal web apps that haven’t been modernized yet.
- Enterprise LTSC editions – Businesses using Windows 10 LTSC releases can keep IE installed until January 2025 when support ends.
- Testing websites – Developers may use IE to test for backwards compatibility during development.
- Application testing – QA engineers may test software on IE to confirm it works as expected.
- Unupdated systems – IE may be the only option on older systems not updated to newer Windows versions.
- Government use – Some government agencies still require IE for certain legacy sites and apps. This use should be phased out ASAP.
In these cases, IE should only be used when absolutely required. It’s wise to minimize IE use to the scenarios above and utilize a modern browser for general browsing.
Conclusion
Now that Microsoft has discontinued support for Internet Explorer, it presents substantial security and website compatibility risks for continued use as your primary browser. IE’s outdated standards support, lack of security patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities, and deprecated status with most major websites make it unsafe for everyday web browsing. The exceptions are internal/government sites and apps specifically requiring IE, at least in the short term until modern replacements can be developed.
For better safety and a faster browsing experience, it’s highly recommended to switch your default browser to a modern alternative like Microsoft Edge. Avoiding IE except for the handful of temporary scenarios where absolutely necessary is the safest way to browse the web moving forward.
| Browser | Release Date | Security Updates | Web Standards Support | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Explorer | 1995 | No (Support Ended) | Very Outdated | Strongly Avoid for Routine Use |
| Microsoft Edge | 2015 | Yes | Very Current | Highly Recommended |
| Chrome | 2008 | Yes | Very Current | Highly Recommended |
| Firefox | 2002 | Yes | Very Current | Highly Recommended |
| Safari | 2003 | Yes | Current | Recommended for Apple Devices |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Internet Explorer safe for online banking and financial transactions?
No, using the outdated and insecure IE browser for sensitive financial transactions like online banking is strongly discouraged. Any browser no longer receiving security updates, like IE, has significant vulnerabilities that put your financial data at risk of theft by hackers. Instead, use a modern, actively supported browser like Microsoft Edge or Chrome for banking.
Can I get hacked just by having Internet Explorer installed?
Yes, even having an old unsupported version of IE still installed on your Windows system poses security risks. Hacks like remote code execution exploits can potentially infect your system simply via IE being present and unpatched. Uninstall IE completely and use a current browser for maximum safety.
What are the biggest vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer?
Some of the largest security flaws in IE that will persist unpatched now that support has ended include memory corruption issues, remote code execution bugs allowing malware infection, and vulnerabilities allowing clickjacking/phishing attacks through malicious iframes. Outdated IE also lacks modern security features like sandboxing.
What websites don’t work on Internet Explorer anymore?
Many major websites have deprecated IE support entirely and may not load properly or at all in IE. Some examples include YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, Zoom, Slack, Dropbox, Amazon Music, and more. Any sites utilizing modern web technologies are unlikely to work right on IE.
Is Internet Explorer slower than modern browsers?
Yes, IE has very slow performance compared to current browser options. Benchmarks show IE loads pages much slower than browsers like Edge and Chrome. Part of this stems from lack of multithreading support. Modern web standards support also lags considerably.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft ended support for Internet Explorer in June 2022, ceasing security updates.
- Using outdated and vulnerable software like IE poses substantial security risks.
- IE lacks support for modern web standards and is incompatible with many major sites.
- Continuing to use IE as your primary browser is strongly discouraged.
- For maximum speed and safety, switch to a modern browser like Microsoft Edge.
- Only use IE when absolutely required for legacy apps and services.