A surprisingly high number of Windows 10 users are still sticking with Internet Explorer, even though Microsoft no longer supports the old browser (it opens in a new tab), according to new data.
Lansweeper figures shared exclusively with TechRadar Pro indicate that nearly half (47%) of Windows 10 devices will need to upgrade because they still use Internet Explorer as their browser, equivalent to millions of PCs in offices and workplaces around the world. world.
Microsoft will officially end support for Internet Explorer 11 (opens in a new tab) imminently (June 15, 2022), which means users will now need to upgrade to Edge, the browser the company actually supports, or run the risk of a possible cyber attack.
End of life for Internet Explorer
The numbers don't just cover a small number of niche users, as Lansweeper audited more than nine million devices from 33,000 organizations to compile its findings.
Microsoft has repeatedly warned companies that Internet Explorer will officially retire (opens in a new tab) this year, but not all companies have been proactive enough to come up with a plan to transition to another browser.
Microsoft first announced plans to withdraw support for Internet Explorer 11 in Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 in August 2020, and has since phased out services for the software.
The company recently recommended that businesses still using Internet Explorer set their own retirement date (opens in a new tab) instead.
They should also ensure that Internet Explorer mode, which is intended to support legacy apps and websites on Microsoft Edge until they can be migrated to the new software, is configured on Edge to allow employees to access Explorer-dependent sites in the future.
However, it's not just unsupported browser versions that cause problems, as Lansweeper also found that a large number (79%) of surveyed PCs weren't even running the latest version of Windows 10, let alone Windows 11.
The company found that version 2004 of Windows 10 was the most popular version running on business devices, despite three subsequent updates since its release in May 2020.
Users should always make sure that their devices are updated to the latest version of Windows as the company regularly releases security patches and patches for the latest vulnerabilities.
"From our perspective, it's not a complete surprise that only one-fifth of Windows 10 devices are running the latest version, or that Internet Explorer end-of-life affects so many," said Roel Decneut, chief strategy officer at Lansweeper.
"Businesses may have many reasons to delay upgrading, including being more conservative, having more pressing issues to address, or simply not having visibility into the version of the operating systems they are running." Organizations will need a bird's-eye view of every device they own when Internet Explorer 11 ends support. Without this data, they will remain vulnerable."