Internet Explorer: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Web browser series by Microsoft}}

| caption = Screenshot of [[Internet Explorer 11]] running on [[Windows 10]], showing the [[Main Page]] of the [[English Wikipedia]]

* [[Mac OS 8.1]] through [[Mac OS X 10.2]]

'''Internet Explorer'''{{efn|Since versions 10–11}} (formerly '''Microsoft Internet Explorer'''{{efn|In versions 1–6}} and '''Windows Internet Explorer''',{{efn|In versions 7–9}} commonly abbreviated as '''IE''' or '''MSIE''') is <!-- Don't change to "was", as it still is software, and will be forever, not just while still supported until 2031 on LTSC. --> a [[deprecation|retired]] series of [[graphical user interface|graphical]] [[web browser]]s developed by [[Microsoft]] that were used in the [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] line of [[operating system]]s. While IE has been discontinued on most Windows editions, it remains supported on certain editions of Windows, such as [[Windows 10 editions#Organizational editions|Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC]].<ref name="discontinued">{{Cite web |date=2021-05-19 |title=Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549 |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM |language=en}}</ref> Starting in 1995, it was first released as part of the add-on package [[Microsoft Plus!|Plus! for Windows 95]] that year. Later versions were available as free downloads or in-[[service pack]]s and included in the [[original equipment manufacturer]] (OEM) service releases of Windows 95 and later versions of Windows. Microsoft spent over {{USD|100 million}} per year on Internet Explorer in the late 1990s,<ref name="victor">{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com/2009-1032-995681.html?tag=toc|title=Victor: Software empire pays high price|publisher=[[CNET News]]|access-date=October 17, 2008|archive-date=February 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221021334/https://www.cnet.com/news/|url-status=dead}}</ref> with over 1,000 people involved in the project by 1999.<ref name="citeworld-ie-rise-fall">{{cite web|url=http://www.citeworld.com/article/2147006/consumerization/internet-explorer-rise-fall-rehabilitation.html|title=The rise, fall, and rehabilitation of Internet Explorer|publisher=citeworld.com|access-date=February 6, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626112836/http://www.citeworld.com/article/2147006/consumerization/internet-explorer-rise-fall-rehabilitation.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="justice-gov-98-1232">{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f2600/2613-1.htm|title=U.S. Antitrust Case 98-1232 |publisher=justice.gov |access-date=February 6, 2015|author=Paul Maritz|quote=There is talk about how we get more $'s from the 1000+ people we have working on browser related stuff...}}</ref> In 2016, [[Microsoft Edge (series of web browsers)|Microsoft Edge]] was released to succeed Internet Explorer 11 as Microsoft's primary web browser. New feature development for Internet Explorer was discontinued that same year,<ref name="is-ie-discontinued">{{cite web|url=https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/platform/faq/|title=Frequently Asked Questions|website=Microsoft Edge Development|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716113141/https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/platform/faq/|archive-date=July 16, 2016|url-status=dead|quote=The latest features and platform updates will only be available in Microsoft Edge. We will continue to deliver security updates to Internet Explorer 11 through its supported lifespan. To ensure consistent behavior across Windows versions, we will evaluate Internet Explorer 11 bugs for servicing on a case by case basis.}}</ref> and support for the browser officially ended on June 15, 2022, for Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) editions.

The core of Internet Explorer 11 will continue being shipped and supported until at least 2029 as ''IE Mode'', a feature of [[Microsoft Edge]], enabling Edge to display web pages using Internet Explorer 11's [[Trident (software)|Trident]] layout engine and other components.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode |title=What is Internet Explorer (IE) mode? |date=2022-03-02 |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613233617/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/edge-ie-mode |archive-date=2022-06-13 |url-status=live}}</ref> Through IE Mode, the underlying technology of Internet Explorer 11 partially exists on versions of Windows that do not support IE11 as a proper application, including newer versions of [[Windows 10]], as well as [[Windows 11]], [[Windows Server 2022]] and [[Windows Server 2025]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550714/microsoft-windows-11-internet-explorer-disabled|title=Windows 11 is deleting Internet Explorer|author=Tom Warren|website=[[The Verge]]|date=2021-06-25|access-date=2021-08-12}}</ref> <!--Microsoft has announced support for IE Mode through at least 2029, with a one year advance notice prior to retiring this variant of IE11.<ref name="IE11 and Edge Lifecycle FAQ"/> -->

The Internet Explorer project was started in the summer of 1994 by [[Thomas Reardon]],<ref name="tr35">{{cite web|title=Thomas Reardon, 34|url=http://www2.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?trid=301|work=MIT Technology Review|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225080855/http://www2.technologyreview.com/tr35/profile.aspx?trid=301|url-status=dead}}</ref> who, according to former project lead Ben Slivka,<ref name="slivka">{{cite web|title=Internet Explorer: A Brief History [6/2022 update]|date=May 28, 2021 |url=https://benslivka.com/2021/05/27/internet-explorer-a-brief-history/|publisher=Ben Slivka|access-date=August 7, 2023|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622193153/https://benslivka.com/2021/05/27/internet-explorer-a-brief-history/}}</ref> used source code from [[Spyglass, Inc.]] Mosaic, which was an early commercial web browser with formal ties to the pioneering [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications]] (NCSA) [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]] browser.<ref name="bw">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |title=Microsoft's $8 Million Goodbye to Spyglass |access-date=February 9, 2011 |first=Peter |last=Elstrom |date=January 22, 1997 |website=[[Businessweek]] |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970629174318/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm |archive-date=June 29, 1997}}</ref><ref name="win">{{cite web |url=https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-78/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make |title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up |website=[[IT Pro]] |publisher=[[Penton (company)|Penton]] |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |date=January 22, 1997 |access-date=February 9, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919002551/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx |archive-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> In late 1994, [[Microsoft]] licensed Spyglass Mosaic for a quarterly fee plus a percentage of Microsoft's non-Windows revenues for the software.<ref name="win" /> Although bearing a name similar to NCSA Mosaic, Spyglass Mosaic had used the NCSA Mosaic source code sparingly.<ref name="ericsink1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ericsink.com/Browser_Wars.html|title=Memoirs From the Browser Wars|publisher= Ericsink.com|access-date=October 17, 2008}}</ref>

The first version, dubbed Microsoft Internet Explorer, was installed as part of the ''Internet Jumpstart Kit'' in the [[Microsoft Plus!]] pack for [[Windows 95]].<ref name="mshistory">{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx |title=The History of Internet Explorer |website=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=February 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051001113951/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx |archive-date=October 1, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Internet Explorer team began with about six people in early development.<ref name="ericsink1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2009-1032-995681.html|title=Software empire pays high price|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|work=[[CNET News]]|date=April 15, 2003|first=John|last=Borland|access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref> Internet Explorer 1.5 was released several months later for [[Windows NT]] and added support for basic table rendering. By including it free of charge with their [[operating system]], they did not have to pay royalties to Spyglass Inc, resulting in a lawsuit and a [[United States dollar|US$]]8&nbsp;million settlement on January 22, 1997.<ref name="bw" /><ref name="win" />

Internet Explorer 3 is the third major version of Internet Explorer, released on August 13, 1996, for Microsoft Windows and on January 8, 1997, for Apple Mac OS.

[[Microsoft Edge Legacy|Microsoft Edge [Legacy]]] was officially unveiled on January 21, 2015, as "Project Spartan".<ref name="ieblog-spartan">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2015/01/22/project-spartan-and-the-windows-10-january-preview-build.aspx|title=Spartan and the Windows 10 January Preview Build|date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122190033/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ie/archive/2015/01/22/project-spartan-and-the-windows-10-january-preview-build.aspx|archive-date=January 22, 2015|website=IEBlog|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|first1=Jason|last1=Weber}}</ref><ref name="verge-spartanextensions">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/27/7925007/microsoft-project-spartan-browser-extensions|title=Microsoft reveals its Internet Explorer successor will support extensions|date=January 27, 2015|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|first1=Tom|last1=Warren}}</ref> On April 29, 2015, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Edge would replace Internet Explorer as the default browser in Windows 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/29/technology/microsoft-edge-windows-build/index.html|title='Microsoft Edge' will replace Internet Explorer|date=April 29, 2015|last=Goldman|first=David|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> However, Internet Explorer remained the default web browser on the Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) and on Windows Server until 2021, primarily for enterprise purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/17/8230631/microsoft-is-killing-off-the-internet-explorer-brand |title=Microsoft is killing off the Internet Explorer brand |work=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=March 17, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/at-work/whats-new-wip-at-work-1809|title=What's new in the Windows Server 2019 Insider Preview Builds|website=docs.microsoft.com|access-date=February 12, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210085938/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-insider/at-work/whats-new-wip-at-work-1809|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/ltsc/whats-new-windows-10-2021|title=What's new in Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021|date=December 9, 2022|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/whats-new-in-windows-server-2022|title=What's new in Windows Server 2022|date=December 14, 2022|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref>

On other versions of Windows, Internet Explorer will still be supported until their own end of support dates. [[Internet Explorer 7|IE7]] was supported until October 10, 2023, alongside the end of support for [[Windows Embedded Compact 2013]], while [[Internet Explorer 9|IE9]] is supported until January 13, 2026, alongside the end of [paid and [[grandfathered]]] Premium Assurance support for customers on [[Windows Server 2008]].<ref name="IELifecycle" /> Barring additional changes to the support policy, Internet Explorer 11 will be supported until January 13, 2032, concurrent with the end of support for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021 |title=Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="IELifecycle" />

[[File:Internet Explorer zoom menu.png|thumb|[[Page zoom]] as seen in [[Internet Explorer 11|IE11]]. The lowest allowed manual zoom level is 10%, and the highest 1000%.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to set the zoom level in Internet Explorer 9 - Browsers |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/browsers/how-to-set-zoom-level |website=docs.microsoft.com |date=January 25, 2022 |language=en-us |quote=You can zoom from 10% to 1,000%.}}</ref> ]]

Internet Explorer has been designed to view a broad range of web pages and provide certain features within the operating system, including [[Microsoft Update]]. During the height of the [[browser wars]], Internet Explorer superseded [[Netscape]] only when it caught up technologically to support the progressive features of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blooberry.com/indexdot/history/netscape.htm |title=Netscape Navigator&nbsp;— Browser History: Netscape explains that by the fourth generations of both browsers, Internet Explorer had caught up technologically with Netscape's browser&nbsp;... Netscape 6.0 was considered slow and buggy, and adoption was slow to occur |author=Brian wilson |publisher=blooberry.com |access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2013}}

On December 16, 2008, [[Trend Micro]] recommended users switch to rival browsers until an emergency patch was released to fix a potential security risk which "could allow outside users to take control of a person's computer and steal their passwords." Microsoft representatives countered this recommendation, claiming that "0.02% of internet sites" were affected by the flaw. A fix for the issue was released the following day with the Security Update for Internet Explorer KB960714, on Microsoft Windows Update.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 16, 2008 |title=Security risk detected in Internet Explorer software |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/north-america/security-risk-detected-in-internet-explorer-software-14110209.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127055017/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/world/north-america/security-risk-detected-in-internet-explorer-software-14110209.html |archive-date=27 January 2009 |newspaper=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7784908.stm |newspaper=BBC News | title=Serious security flaw found in IE | date=December 16, 2008 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref>

The [[Germany|German government]] warned users against using Internet Explorer and recommended switching to an alternative web browser, due to the major security hole described above that was [[Operation Aurora#Attack analysis|exploited in Internet Explorer]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8463516.stm | work=BBC News | title=Germany issues Explorer warning | date=January 16, 2010 | access-date=March 26, 2010 | first=Daniel | last=Emery}}</ref> The Australian and French governments also issued a similar warning a few days later.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8465038.stm | work=BBC News | title=France in fresh Explorer warning | date=January 18, 2010 | access-date=March 26, 2010 | first=Jonathan | last=Fildes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2795684.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123001337/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2795684.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2010 |title=Govt issues IE security warning |author=Emily Bourke for AM |date=January 19, 2010 |publisher=abc.net.au |access-date=September 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?&entry_id=55509 | title=The Technology Chronicles : France and Germany warn users not to use Internet Explorer | first=Alejandro | last=Martinez-Cabrera | date=January 18, 2010 | work=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/7011626/Germany-warns-against-using-Microsoft-Internet-Explorer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/7011626/Germany-warns-against-using-Microsoft-Internet-Explorer.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Germany warns against using Microsoft Internet Explorer | first=Fiona | last=Govan | date=January 18, 2010 | access-date=March 26, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 26, 2014, Microsoft issued a security advisory relating to {{CVE|2014-1776}} (use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 through 11<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2014-1776|title=CVE-2014-1776|website=Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE)|date=January 29, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430095220/http://www.cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2014-1776|archive-date=April 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>), a vulnerability that could allow "remote code execution" in Internet Explorer versions 6 to 11.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/security/2963983 | title=Microsoft Security Advisory 2963983 | date=April 26, 2014 | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> On April 28, 2014, the United States [[Department of Homeland Security]]'s [[United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team]] (US-CERT) released an advisory stating that the vulnerability could result in "the complete compromise" of an affected system.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cybersecurity-microsoft-browser-idUSBREA3Q0PB20140428 | title=U.S., UK advise avoiding Internet Explorer until bug fixed | first=Jim | last=Finkle | date=April 28, 2014 | work=Reuters | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> US-CERT recommended reviewing Microsoft's suggestions to mitigate an attack or using an alternate browser until the bug is fixed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2014/04/28/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer-Use-After-Free-Vulnerability-Being | title=Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability Guidance | date=April 28, 2014 | publisher=United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/222929 | title=Vulnerability Note VU#222929 – Microsoft Internet Explorer use-after-free vulnerability | date=April 27, 2014 | publisher=Carnegie Mellon University | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> The UK National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-UK) published an advisory announcing similar concerns and for users to take the additional step of ensuring their antivirus software is up to date.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-microsoft-explorer-security-flaws-20140428,0,4797833.story | title=U.S.: Stop using Internet Explorer until security holes are fixed | date=April 28, 2014 | newspaper=Chicago Tribune | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]], a cyber security firm, confirmed that "the vulnerability crashes Internet Explorer on Windows XP."<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-27184188 | title=Microsoft warns of Internet Explorer flaw | date=April 28, 2014 | publisher=BBC | access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> The vulnerability was resolved on May 1, 2014, with a security update.<ref name=IEfix>{{Cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/ms14-021 |title=Microsoft Security Bulletin MS14-021 – Critical Security Update for Internet Explorer (2965111) |date=May 1, 2014 |publisher=Microsoft Technet |access-date=July 6, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Usage share of web browsers (Source StatCounter).svg|thumb|[[Usage share of web browsers]] according to [[StatCounter]], 2008–2021 ]]

Internet Explorer's market share fell below 50% in September 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Goldman |first = David |url = https://money.cnn.com/2010/10/06/technology/internet_explorer_market_share/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin |title = Internet Explorer usage falls below 50% |publisher = CNN |date = October 6, 2010 |access-date = October 6, 2010}}</ref> In May 2012, Google Chrome overtook Internet Explorer as the most used browser worldwide, according to [[StatCounter]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/255886/google_chrome_overtakes_internet_explorer.html|title=Google Chrome Overtakes Internet Explorer|date=May 21, 2012|website=PCWorld|language=en|access-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref>

The popularity of Internet Explorer led to the appearance of malware abusing its name. On January 28, 2011, a fake Internet Explorer browser calling itself "Internet Explorer – Emergency Mode" appeared. It closely resembled the real Internet Explorer but had fewer buttons and no search bar. If a user attempted to launch any other browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, [[Opera (web browser)|Opera]], [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]], or the real Internet Explorer, this browser would be loaded instead. It also displayed a fake error message, claiming that the computer was infected with malware and Internet Explorer had entered "Emergency Mode". It blocked access to legitimate sites such as Google if the user tried to access them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.im-infected.com/hijacker/internet-explorer-emergency-mode.html |title=IE Emergency Mode |work=im-infected.com |date=January 28, 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630065328/http://www.im-infected.com/hijacker/internet-explorer-emergency-mode.html |archive-date=June 30, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-avg-antivirus-2011 |title=Bleeping Computer – Fake IE Emergency Mode (by fake AVG) |date=January 28, 2011 |access-date=June 23, 2013}}</ref>