Buzz
Microsoft has been urging users to switch from Internet Explorer to other browsers for years, yet it still holds nearly 5% of the web browser market share. If many users haven't started the transition, Microsoft will implement proactive measures to push users away from Internet Explorer.
At long last, Internet Explorer has met its demise
Automatic redirection to Microsoft Edge for incompatible websites
Starting from recent versions of Microsoft Edge, when Internet Explorer accesses an incompatible website, the web browser will automatically launch in Microsoft Edge to continue the web browsing process.
The list of incompatible websites is managed by Microsoft and currently contains 1,156 websites including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, ESPN, Yahoo Mail, and more.
This redirection is carried out through a Browser Helper Object (BHO) named 'IEtoEdge BHO', as shown below.
The following files are associated with BHO located in the directory C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\[Edge_version]\BHO:
ie_to_edge_bho.dll
ie_to_edge_bho_64.dll
ie_to_edge_stub.exe
While browsing the web, BHO checks whether a webpage is compatible with Internet Explorer. If it's not compatible, BHO automatically opens the webpage in Microsoft Edge and users will see the message 'This website doesn't work with Internet Explorer!' as shown below:
When displaying the warning, Microsoft Edge also prompts users to move their Internet Explorer settings, data, and cookies to Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft explains that: 'The following web browsing data will be imported: Favorites, passwords, search tools, open tabs, history, settings, cookies, and homepage'.
Even if users choose not to transfer their data, they can still click Continue Browsing to view the website in Microsoft Edge.
While browsing websites incompatible with Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge will display a banner reminding users to replace their default browser with a newer, more modern browser.
When a website is opened in Microsoft Edge, the IE tab for the incompatible website will automatically close if it has no content. If not, it will be redirected to Microsoft's support page explaining that 'the website you are trying to access does not work with Internet Explorer'
On October 26th, Microsoft will introduce new group policy templates allowing users to control this redirection behavior, detailed in a recently added support document.
- RedirectSitesFromInternetExplorerPreventBHOInstall - Enables you to prevent the installation of 'IEtoEdge BHO' in Internet Explorer.
- RedirectSitesFromInternetExplorerRedirectMode - Allows you to disable redirection from Internet Explorer to Microsoft Edge.
- HideInternetExplorerRedirectUXForIncompatibleSitesEnabled - Allows admins to disable the redirection notification displayed in Microsoft Edge.
Although Microsoft's support document states that this redirection will begin with Microsoft Edge 87 scheduled for release on November 17th, in BleepingComputer's testing, it occurred in Microsoft Edge 86.0.622.51.
Microsoft services will no longer support IE in November
In addition to web browsing redirection, Microsoft also plans to cease support for Internet Explorer across various services provided by the company.
In an email sent to business customers, Microsoft warns them that starting from November 13th, users will no longer be able to sign in to their Microsoft accounts from the Internet Explorer browser.
In a blog post in August, Microsoft also announced that Microsoft Teams will cease support for Internet Explorer 11 starting from November 30th. Microsoft will ultimately end all support for Internet Explorer across all its services on August 17th, 2021.
For those who still require support for Internet Explorer, they will be able to use Microsoft Edge's Internet Explorer Mode for backward compatibility.
An important piece of information is that changing the default browser on Windows 11 will be similar to previous Windows 10 operating systems.
- Reference: Microsoft finally allows users to switch default browsers on Windows 11
Following the launch of Android 11, Samsung has also unveiled its Samsung One UI 3.0 version.
