Microsoft recently announced that it is finally pulling the plug off the ailing Internet Explorer browser. The tech giant confirmed that it will no longer support Internet Explorer versions, 7, 8, 9 and 10 that run on most operating systems.

Along with the cancellation of support for several Internet Explorer versions, Microsoft is pushing users to use its latest Windows 10 browser and Edge, the newest Internet browser developed by Microsoft specifically for its latest operating system.

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In a statement posted on the company's official website, Microsoft said, "Beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical supports and security updates. Internet Explorer 11 is the last version of Internet Explorer, and will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10."

Microsoft highlighted the improved security features of Internet Explorer 11, adding that the browser has better backwards compatibility and increased performance. Microsoft is selling the Internet Explorer 11 using the banner of security and reliability.

The Redmond-based tech company added that more than 200 million people are currently running their computers and devices on the Windows 10 platform.

Internet Explorer, initially called Windows Internet Explorer, was first released as an add-on for Windows 95 Plus. The operating system, as the name suggests, was released in 1995.

Internet Explorer became one of the most widely used Internet browser, toppling the then leader Netscape Navigator. Internet Explorer reached the peak of its popularity during 2002 and 2003 when it is responsible for at least 95 per cent of the web's traffic.

Internet Explorer only lost its grasp of the browser market when Google Chrome took the lead in May 2012. Prior to Chrome taking over the browser industry, Internet Explorer faced serious competition from Mozilla Firefox and Opera. According to Daily Mail, part of Internet Explorer's eventual downfall was the bad reputation it gained due to its security features.

With the dwindling popularity of the Internet Explorer brand, Microsoft decided to develop an entirely new browser to replace it. Initially dubbed as Project Spartan, Edge is now the flagship browser of the Windows 10 operating system. Window's 10 was developed by Microsoft as a universal operating system, this means that Edge is compatible with almost every platform that operating system supports. These platforms include desktop, smartphone, tablet and console devices.