Microsoft "permanently disabled" Internet Explorer on Valentine's Day, shutting down a web browser that for a long time has stood in the shadow of newer, better web browsers. 

Microsoft Edge has co-existed with Internet Explorer for years, but now it will be the default browser on all Windows devices. 

“Not only is Microsoft Edge a faster, more secure and more modern browsing experience than Internet Explorer, but it is also able to address a key concern: compatibility for older, legacy websites and applications,” Sean Lyndersay, general manager of Microsoft Edge Enterprise, wrote in a 2021 blog post announcing Internet Explorer's eventual demise.  

The browser launched in 1995 and for a long time was the most popular entry point to the web. Then federal regulators in 1997 sued Microsoft for requiring computer makers to use Internet Explorer as part of Windows. 

The legal pressure eventually forced Microsoft to open up Windows to other browsers, which soon gained market share. 

Google's Chrome now makes up 65 percent of the browser market, and Apple's Safari makes up 19 percent, according to analytics company Statcounter. As for Microsoft Edge, it currently stands at around 4 percent. 

Internet Explorer's final version came out in 2013. 

While more nostalgic web denizens lamented the brower's passing, others commented that it had become "bug-ridden and insecure," and noted that it was primarily used for downloading other browsers.

Share:
More In Technology
Meta To Take Nearly 50% Cut Of Digital Asset Sales
Meta wants creators to make money from the metaverse, but it's going to take a large chunk of the cut. The tech giant is planning to keep nearly 50% of all digital asset sales within Horizon Worlds, the virtual reality platform that's considered an integral part of the company's unfolding metaverse. Rolf Illenberger, Co-founder and Managing Director of VRdirect, joined Cheddar to discuss why Meta is taking heat for this move, and what it could be doing as an alternative to help support creators, small businesses, and consumers.
New York Auto Show Puts Big Focus on Electric Vehicles
Lisa Whalen, Automotive and Mobility Analyst at Morning Consult, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to break down the famed auto show's emphasis on electric vehicles this year, reflecting a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry.
What Spending 665 Days in Space Feels Like
Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space.
Living in Outer Space; A New-Age Twist on Millenia-Old Remedies
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates, Peggy Whitson, Director of Human Space Flight, Axiom Space, breaks down Axiom's involvement in the first fully-private mission to the ISS, and her experience spending 665 days in space; William Li and Danielle Chang, co-founders of The Hao Life, discuss how they're shaking up the $71 billion supplement industry by putting a modern spin on traditional natural Chinese remedies; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Sagrada Familia: Gaudi's Challenge.'
Load More