WordPress version 4.8 recently became available for download, and along with the newest release, came the announcement WordPress will no longer be supporting Internet Explorer (IE) versions 8, 9 & 10. While some capabilities will still be available to wp-admins working within these old browsers, new features and upgrades will no longer be available. That means it’s time to update!
READ MORE: WordPress 4.8 Updates
WHAT IS A BROWSER?
So first things first, do you even know what a web browser is? It is something that probably gets overlooked most times you click it to surf the web.
A browser, simply, is what you use to view websites. Technically, it’s a software application that “retrieves, presents and traverses information resources” on the internet.
WHAT’S YOUR BROWSER?
Some browsers come already pre-loaded on your computer depending on what software you are using. For example, if you are working on a Windows PC you probably have Internet Explorer, or for newer versions, Microsoft Edge. If you’re an Apple person you’re probably using Safari. But you are not limited to using only the pre-installed browsers, you can easily download other browsers from their websites. The most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Apple Safari (logos shown above).
To find out which version of your browser you are using, look for a drop down menu (typically at the top of your page, towards the right hand corner). Look for an “about” or “help” option.
Here are the exact steps we took for Google Chrome:
- Click the drop down menu in the top right hand corner of the page, which look like three dots
- Select help
- Select “About Google Chrome”
- You can see Google tells us the browser is up to date and which version is current
Another way to find out the current browser versions is to check out whatsmybrowser.org
OUTDATED BROWSERS
Outdated browsers open you up to all sorts of possible security risks. They make you more vulnerable to people stealing (hacking) your personal data and make it easier to compromise your computer, i.e. allowing them to send out tons of spam emails. Outdated browsers also make your internet experience “unhappy” since they can have limitations on what features (think submitting forms or viewing media) and websites are available to you.
BROWSE HAPPY
Browse Happy is a website maintained by WordPress that alerts users when their browsers are no longer supported. You can use this tool to upgrade your browser and learn about other browsers that may better suit your needs.
Contact us with any questions or recommendations on browsers.
Roy – 832-220-0040 ext 101
Gail – 832-220-0040 ext 102
We’d love to hear any feedback on your favorite browser. Drop us a note below.
