It's the internet browser than many of us would have grown up with as a faithful servant, particularly during the web's early years. But as of tonight Microsoft Internet Explorer will be no more.
From midnight, the old browser will stop working on Windows PCs and users will be redirected to its replacement, Edge. With the change imminent, users of IE are being urged to save bookmarks and passwords to an alternative browser, reports the Daily Star.
Sean Lyndersay, Microsoft Edge program manager, told Mashable: "The future of Internet Explorer on Windows 10 lies in Microsoft Edge. Not only is Microsoft Edge a quicker, more secure, and more contemporary browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it also addresses a crucial concern: compatibility for older legacy websites and applications."
While Edge comes pre-installed on most Windows PCs, it's very easy to install a different browser, such as:
- Google Chrome is the world's most popular browser, owing to its fast load times and nifty user interface
- Brave is a privacy-centric browser which blocks most ads and trackers and even pays you in cryptocurrency for using it
- Firefox is a highly customisable open source browser that lets you change its look and feel with community-made 'themes'
For years, Internet Explorer remained the default browser for many, and some stubborn Windows users have still clung to the ancient app. First launched in 1995 as an add-on for Windows 95, Internet Explorer was included for free with future versions of Windows.
