Internet Explorer end of life could be a nightmare for some businesses

Some Japanese organizations are having trouble letting go of the historic browser

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While many of us may have made our goodbyes toInternet Explorer following its recent end of life, the demise of the vintage browser could pose a major issue for some organisations.

Many companies in Japan, including government agencies, financial institutions, and manufacturing and logistics companies, still use the now unsupported webbrowser, according to Asian business publicationNikkei.

Microsoftfinally ended support for Internet Explorer after 27 years on June 15, 2022, warning users of cybersecurity risks ifthey continue to use the software.

Why is Japan still reliant on Internet Explorer?

The browser is still commonly used in Japan for employee task attendance management, expenses settlement, and other internal purposes according to research from information technology firm Keyman’s Net, cited byNikkei.

Almost half - 49% - of respondents surveyed said they still used the browser for work, and 20% said they weren’t sure how to transition away from Internet Explorer.

Many of Japan’s important public sector resources have been slow to respond to the issue according toNikkei’sreporting.

Notices from the Japan Pension Service concerning online applications still require users to use Edge in Internet Explorer mode, and so does the website of an unnamed government-backed mutual aid corporation for private schools.

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It’s not just the Japanese that are still clinging on to Internet Explorer.

Research from Lansweeper exclusively shared withTechRadar Proclaims nearly half (47%) ofWindows 10devices will need to be updated due to stillusing Internet Explorer as their browser- equivalent to millions of PCs in offices and other workplaces around the world.

This bizarre CPU vending machine in Japan is a real silicon lottery>Internet Explorer abandoned once and for all>Exploits for nasty Internet Explorer bug found on hacking forums

Microsoft first announced its plans to gradually phase out Internet Explorer 11 across Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 in August 2020, and since then has been gradually stripping back services for the software.

Internet Explorer has a storied history, victoriously battling it out with otherbrowserssuch as Netscape in late 90’s for dominance, in phenomenon know as the “Browser Wars”.

Will McCurdy has been writing about technology for over five years. He has a wide range of specialities including cybersecurity, fintech, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, cloud computing, payments, artificial intelligence, retail technology, and venture capital investment. He has previously written for AltFi, FStech, Retail Systems, and National Technology News and is an experienced podcast and webinar host, as well as an avid long-form feature writer.

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