Pat Altimore, a developer consultant in the Microsoft Services Premier Developer group, posted an update to his blog last Friday (Jan. 8) which explained that users running older operating systems including Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 — even if they don’t use Internet Explorer, but have it on their computers — need to update to version 11, because without IE 11 installed, some security-based Windows components will not be serviced. Those parts include the rendering engine for  JavaScript / HTML, the Web Browser control and Windows’ Internet Protocol Handler, and those features aren’t included in any system updates that operating systems receive. MORE: 12 Computer Security Mistakes You’re Probably Making In his blog post, Altimore explained how other programs on your computer that access the internet rely on these controllers, handlers and rendering engines to access the internet, so if your PC isn’t running Windows 10 and cannot use Edge, it is relying on the technologies included in Internet Explorer. Fortunately, Microsoft makes it easy to get the latest and most secure version of the Web browser, and we’ve got step-by-step instructions to keep you up to date:

How To Update Internet Explorer

You can download Internet Explorer directly from Microsoft (opens in new tab), but if you set IE to automatically update, you won’t need to worry about this again:

  1. Click on the Start icon.
  2. Type in “Internet Explorer.”
  3. Select Internet Explorer.
  4. Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner.
  5. Select About Internet Explorer.
  6. Check the box next to Install new versions automatically.
  7. Click Close. Now Internet Explorer will automatically stay up to date, keeping Windows’ internet services patched.

Edge Browser Tips

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Share a Web Page Disable Flash Change Download FolderSend a Web NoteDisable or Enable CookiesStop Restoring Tabs After a CrashChange Search Engine to GooglePin a Website to Windows 10’s Start MenuEnable Do Not TrackSet Homepage (or Homepages)Enable Dark Theme How to Enable Do Not Track in Microsoft Edge BrowserHow to Import Favorites into Edge From Another Browser Clear Your History and Cookies in Microsoft EdgePrint in Microsoft EdgeAdd a Page to the Reading List in Microsoft Edge BrowserRename a Favorite in Microsoft Edge BrowserHow to Add a Favorite Site/Bookmark in Microsoft EdgeHow to Open an InPrivate Window in Microsoft EdgeTurn On Reading Mode in Microsoft EdgeEnable and Use Cortana in Microsoft Edge Block Pop-ups in Microsoft Edge BrowserManage or View Saved PasswordsSet Aside TabsIncrease Your PrivacyAll Windows 10 Tips