Why Microsoft has blocked hundreds of sites in Internet Explorer

Microsoft is ‘encouraging’ users to abandon Microsoft’s legacy browser and adopt Edge instead.

- MARK HACHMAN

If Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser fails to open your favorite sites soon, there’s a reason: Microsoft will block those sites from opening in Internet Explorer, and will require them to be opened in Edge instead.

Although Microsoft has long tried to get rid of Internet Explorer for security’s sake, the ancient browser clings to 5 percent of the worldwide browser market (go.pcworld.com/5mks). Preventing sites from opening within Explorer is a new way for Microsoft to “encourage” users to abandon Microsoft’s legacy browser and adopt Edge instead. The change, however, doesn’t actually mean that you have to stop using Internet Explorer; you just have to stop using the Internet Explorer browser. (We’ll explain.)