Buffalo, NY – Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6), 8 years and 7 months, died Monday, March 1, 2010 on the worldwide web following a brief… bug.

IE 6 is survived by its two younger brothers Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8.

Born on August 27, 2001, IE 6 was the default browser shipped with Windows XP.  Although debunkers branded IE 6 the “worst tech products of all time” lists, with some publications labeling it as the “least secure software on the planet” due to its security issues and lack of support for modern web standards, it thrived well into the 2000’s.

Of course, Internet Explorer isn’t truly dead.  You can still use it.  Why you would want to use it is another matter in itself.  But CNN reported that one company in Denver, Colorado actually held a mock funeral for the out-of-date browser and saw nearly 100 mourners, all dressed in black, attending to bid a fond farewell to IE 6.

Where did this start?

Earlier this year, Google announced that they were going to start phasing out support of older browsers like IE 6.  What that really means is some of your online applications like Google Docs or your calendar may not function properly on older browsers unless you upgrade.  But before you panic and throw your Internet in the garbage, consider this: there are other browsers out there.  Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and even Opera for example all have their own unique features that make them worth-while upgrades from IE 6.  Still want to remain loyal to Internet Explorer?  Upgrade your browser to IE 7 or 8 at the very least.

Why should you upgrade your browser?

First and foremost, you should update your browser so your website works better.  There are more efficient ways to surf the web.  Newer, more up-to-date web browsers can run video and audio applications more efficiently for example.

Think about it like this: do you want to watch your favorite TV shows on a 12” black and white unit or on a 42” LCD flat panel?  It seems like an easy choice.  You should want your websites to display with the same quality.  And the great part about upgrading your browser is that it doesn’t cost you anything.  It’s like getting the big-screen HD TV for free.

Second, it’s simple: browser upgrades are free and only take a few seconds to complete.

Finally, the security of your information online should be a priority.  IE 6 has many security issues, mainly because Microsoft stopped developing it nearly four years ago to concentrate on their newer versions.  IE 6 is susceptible to all sorts of Malware (malicious software).  Upgrade your browser to protect your information online and surf the web securely.

360 PSG recommends that you upgrade to a better browser (if I didn’t mention it before, Firefox is a great browser), but in the end we don’t really have any say.  We do check all of our sites across all major browsers before they go live.  However, they all have their own deficiencies, and Internet Explorer continues to reign as one of the “buggiest” browsers.

Helpful Hints

Not sure what a browser is or which one you’re using?  Don’t be embarrassed, you’re not alone.  From dictionary.com, a web browser is defined as: A software program that facilitates entry to and usage of the Internet.

Need help figuring out which version of your browser you’re using?  Here are some screenshots of where the help menus and browser version information is located on four of the most popular browsers:

Firefox

Internet Explorer

Google Chrome

Safari

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