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If you're a web designer or coder you know that working with Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) requires alot of wasted time to fix bugs and layout issues related to it's lack of CSS support. Released in 2001, this outdated browser is still being used daily by 15 - 25% of people unaware of it vulnerabilities.

I've put together a litte something explaining why you should upgrade your outdated web browser, in this case Internet Explorer 6, and how the security issues may harm you. I know there's been countless of these "why internet explorer sucks" articles on the web but It seems that there's still a small percentage of users unaware of it's issues.

This version of Internet Explorer is widely derided for its security issues and lack of support for modern web standards, making frequent appearances in "worst tech products of all time" lists, with some publications labeling it as the "least secure software on the planet." Because a substantial percentage of the web audience still uses the outdated browser, campaigns have been established to encourage users to upgrade to newer versions of Internet Explorer or switch to different browsers. Some websites have dropped support for IE6 entirely, most notable of which is Google dropping support in some of its services.

Over nine years after its release, it continues to receive patches for security vulnerabilities nearly every month. As a result of its many problems, some security experts, including Bruce Schneier, recommend that users stop using Internet Explorer for normal browsing, and switch to a different browser instead...especially when visiting untrusted sites.

Your security and your company’s security are at risk: There’s no other way to lay it out: if the security of Google, Yahoo, and around 20 other companies were compromised due to people still running IE6, then your security is at risk too. Upgrading after a hacker uses this exploit to steal your information is simply too late, especially if you hold sensitive customer data.

As a coder and designer, it’s difficult to put into words how many extra man hours I and others have dedicated to make websites compatible with the outdated browser.

Despite the difficulty presented by IE6 though, the web’s done alright. But with the coming release of HTML 5, we’re about to hit a breaking point where innovation will be stifled if websites must continue to cater to this browser. Here’s what’s happening in the next few months and, more importantly, why we must force ourselves off IE6 if the web is to grow.

You might be asking yourself two questions right about now: What’s so bad about IE6? And why do so many people still use it? The answer to the first question is relatively simple: Internet Explorer 6 is outdated technology in a rapidly-changing Internet landscape. Imagine trying to use the social web, Microsoft Office, iTunes, IM, your video games, and all of your desktop apps…with a computer from 2001 (20 GB of space, 256 MB of RAM, anyone?). It’s the same thing: a great deal of new web technology is simply incompatible with IE6. A short list of things IE6 does not support, of which coders probably know them all:

- CSS v2 (Cascading Style Sheets): This is the code that enables almost all design on the web. In other words, designers have to hack up websites just to make them load in IE6.

- PNG Transparency: A great deal of .png images don’t display correctly in IE6. It basically kills using them in design work.

- General Security: Just like not updating your virus software can get you riddled with spyware, not updating your browser can be a gateway to attacks. There are even code snippets that will shut down IE6. I won’t tell you what they are, but you can find them on Wikipedia. It’s unstable.

- Digg, Facebook, and YouTube (soon): Both Digg and YouTube have announced that they’re cutting back on IE6 support. Facebook already gives you suggestions for better browsers if you try to log in with IE6. You won’t be able to Digg articles or browse YouTube via IE6 in the near future.

Now, if you’re wondering why people still use the outdated IE6 browser, there are two primary reasons most people point to: the fact that it is the standard browser of Windows XP (which is still the most used operating system around), and the fact that many corporate IT departments don’t see the need to upgrade – and find upgrading to be too much of a hassle. Without a significant event like Google not loading in IE6, people have stayed content with their current browser.

Still, the web has somehow gotten by with these IE6-imposed limitations. However, there’s a new technology that will take over the web. It’s also one that IE6 will not be able to handle at all: HTML 5.

Microsoft to Support IE6 Until 2014
Like it or not, Microsoft is doing the right thing. Windows XP extended support will continue until 2014 and IE6 was the browser supplied with that OS. IE6 support and updates will therefore continue for at least another 5 years. They can not and will not force users to upgrade.

Sources:
http://mashable.com/2009/07/16/ie6-must-die/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_6
http://mashable.com/2010/01/18/5-more-reasons-why-ie6-must-die/
http://blogs.sitepoint.com/2009/08/18/microsoft-support-ie6-2014/