ELM Bulletin - November 30, 2011
It's Time to Upgrade from Internet Explorer 6 & 7
Internet Explorer 6. It's way past it's prime. If you have it, unload it before it hurts you. (Click here to read Microsoft's short but slightly interesting history of Internet Explorer.) Internet Explorer 7 as well is far out of date. It is our recommendation to install the latest Internet Explorer version that your operating system will support. For Windows XP this is IE8 and for Windows Vista and 7 this is IE9.
Released in 2001, Internet Explorer 6 is old, insecure and costing you money. Since it introduction the Internet has become both extremely useful and highly dangerous. IE6 is just not up to the demands of modern Internet use and is an extremely vulnerable browser by any standard. Microsoft is urging those still using IE6 (about 2% of Internet users in North America; 8% globally) to upgrade before its failings cause further damage or loss. Even IE7, though a great improvement over IE6, is vastly inferior to Internet Explorer 9. It is far past time to upgrade.
Since the debut of IE6, newer Internet Explorer versions have been released that greatly enhance the usability of the Internet while protecting users from many of its dangers. Other Internet browsers have also become available (such as Opera, Chrome, Firefox and Safari) that offer their own mix of good and bad but are generally all superior to IE6 and IE7. Internet Explorer 8 and 9 include many productivity enhancing features, allowing you to do far more in less time with greater safety than ever before. It is far past time to upgrade.
Windows XP is not compatible with Internet Explorer versions beyond IE8 but most alternative browsers remain compatible. Internet Explorer 8 can be installed on XP but XP will not be able to take full advantage of all of the improvements and security features built into IE8 because of its own age. It is time to upgrade.
Windows Vista, 7 and higher are compatible with Internet Explorer 9 and I highly recommend it over any other browser since IE9 takes full advantage of the improvements and security features built into these operating systems. (You Firefox and Safari users out there may also be very pleasantly surprised.)
So, now that I've convinced you to upgrade from IE6 (or any earlier version of IE), how do you do it? Just follow the steps below and you're on your way. NOTE: Review the browser you wish to install with your IT department as some software is incompatible with the latest browser versions.
1) Go to the download page for the browser you intend to install; several of the more popular browsers are listed below, in order of my personal preference :- )
- Internet Explorer - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/downloads/ie
- Opera - http://www.opera.com/browser/ Google Chrome - http://www.google.com/chrome
- Mozilla Firefox - http://www.mozilla.org/
- Apple Safari - http://www.apple.com/safari/download/
2) Download and install the browser's installation package
3) Be sure to set your new browser as the default
4) Go to "Add / Remove Programs" (XP) or "Programs and Features" (Vista & 7) and remove Internet Explorer 6 (depending on Windows version and updates installed, IE6 may not be removable)
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this or any other issue.
Past issues of the ELM Bulletin are available from our website, feel free to forward them to anyone you wish.
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