Why You Shouldn't Bother with IE8 on Windows 10

The world has moved on since Microsoft's heyday in the early 2000s, and its once-dominant web browser, Internet Explorer (IE), is no exception. Despite attempts to revitalize it through various iterations such as IE9 and even the brief flirtation known as IE Metro in Windows 8, IE's popularity has continued a steady decline.

For those still holding onto legacy operating systems like Windows XP or Vista, you might be forgiven for sticking with what you know when browsing the internet. However, if your system can handle it (and let's face facts - chances are it probably cannot), there really isn't much justification left to continue using Internet Explorer 8 on Windows 10.

Released back in August of 2009 as part of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and later included with all versions of Windows from XP SP2 through to the now-ancient Vista, IE8 was once upon a time considered quite an impressive piece of software. Fast forward nearly seven years however, and it's clear that times have indeed changed.

With Microsoft itself abandoning support for Internet Explorer 8 in January this year (2015), users are left vulnerable to security exploits which can easily compromise their personal data if not patched up-to-date. Add into the mix IE8's laughable rendering capabilities when faced with modern web standards - think full HTML5, CSS3, and even basic HTML5 video support still proving elusive for some websites!

For those who simply cannot or will not upgrade to a more contemporary browser like Google Chrome (free) or Mozilla Firefox (also free), there are alternatives available that don't involve rolling back the clock by several generations of Windows. For instance, Internet Explorer 11 remains supported until July next year - although even then, it's hard to recommend sticking with anything older than IE9 if you value your online safety.

In conclusion: unless absolutely necessary (and let's be honest, when is that ever really true anymore?), dump IE8 like the toxic waste that it truly has become. For everyone else out there still holding onto this relic of an era long gone by - join us in the 21st century and embrace something far superior for your browsing needs.

Internet explorer 8 for windows 10