What’s your go-to internet browser? If you’re like most users, you probably opt for Google Chrome or Safari. But some people – roughly 1.8 percent of today’s internet users – still cling to the software of yesteryear. Yes, readers, we’re talking about Internet Explorer. Despite its unpopularity, Internet Explorer is still installed by default on certain Windows computers. If you haven’t guessed, we’re not fans of the browser. Read on to find out why we don’t support Internet Explorer with our web development clients.
Why Our Web Services Don’t Support Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer Is Unsafe
Not only is Internet Explorer outdated and difficult to navigate, but also it’s unsafe and famously vulnerable to hacking. By using Internet Explorer, you put your data – not to mention employee data and customer data – at risk. In fact, even having Internet Explorer on your computer puts you at risk of security breaches. That’s right: Having the browser installed on your device puts you at risk, even if you never use it. Microsoft knows about these security issues, which is why the company has urged users to stop using Internet Explorer as a default browser. Even the Principal Program Manager at Microsoft has written publicly about the perils of using the browser. Instead, Microsoft points users to Edge, Internet Explorer’s more modern alternative.
It’s No Longer the Industry Standard
As we mentioned above, Microsoft no longer encourages the use of Internet Explorer, pointing users to the company’s newer, safer Edge product instead. In fact, Microsoft doesn’t even update Internet Explorer 10 anymore, instead focusing entirely on the Edge software. This means that, since 2016, Internet Explorer 10 has been classified as a “dead browser.” And while the latest version of Internet Explorer – Internet Explorer 11 – will receive updates until 2025, these updates will still lag behind those applied to more functional software. That makes sense when you consider the browser’s faster, more accessible, more secure alternatives including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Finally, companies like YouTube, GitHub, and Apple, no longer support the browser, making navigation challenging for Internet Explorer’s remaining users. Consider, for example, the hoops you’d have to jump through to embed a YouTube video on the homepage of your website if you were using Internet Explorer as your default.
It Doesn’t Support High-End Web Development
When it comes to high-end web development, the use of JavaScript, a powerful programming language, is key. Without it, a truly stunning website becomes a bit “meh.” Unfortunately, Internet Explorer doesn’t support the newest versions of JavaScript, instead requiring developers to use older versions. This adds significant load time to your site, which can cost you visitors and Google placement. Even for the most experienced web developer, building a solid website without modern JavaScript is a losing battle. And without a stunning website, you’re less likely to catch a potential customer’s eye – or rank in Google.
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So, why don’t we support Internet Explorer? The answers are clear. This outdated browser is vulnerable to security breaches, counterproductive to web development, and generally out of fashion in the development community. For these reasons and more, we steer our web development clients away from Internet Explorer and toward more secure browsers. With these tools, we can help you rank well in Google, keep customers on your site, and keep your site secure.
If you’re hoping to build a beautiful, effective website that will rank on Google, contact 417 Marketing for help. Our team of knowledgeable, creative, and passionate professionals specializes in SEO, web design and maintenance, and Google Ads, and we have successfully completed over 700 websites since our inception in 2010. Contact us and learn more about what we can do for your company.
