Microsoft wrote its own fate by taking immature decisions for Internet Explorer. I have used IE since its beginning, and discontinued later when the browser became a target for malicious third-party ActiveX controls and other security issues.
Once upon a time, Internet Explorer was the primary browser for Windows users. It has a long history before the present Web 2.0 revolution, but it miserably failed to cope with the current pace.
As per my analysis, here are the few reasons for Internet Explorer’s loss of market share.
1. Security concerns
Hackers targeted Internet Explorer more aggressively than any other browser. PC users accidentally install ActiveX controls while browsing pirated and pornographic content websites through Internet Explorer and become victims of various malware infections. From time to time Microsoft tried to introduce more secure versions of Internet Explorer, but the user base Microsoft has already doesn’t willing to migrate to newer versions.
2. Extensions support
PC users are expecting more functionality from the browsers. Browsing the websites is not sufficient for them. In this segment also Microsoft failed to provide additional functionality to its browser. Initially Opera, Firefox, and later Google Chrome exploited PC uses hearts by offering third-party plug-in support.
If you spend a few hours for Firefox plug-ins or Google Chrome extensions you will come across thousands of scripts which perform virtually any possible tasks for the PC user. That’s why Internet Explorer lost interest in PC users’ mind.
3. Update process
90% of the PC users don’t have proper technical knowledge on the browser and operating system upgradations. In this context painless upgradation process is the key success to any web browser. I am using Google Chrome as my primary browser for five years; it never prompted me to upgrade the browser at any point in time.
Not only Google Chrome but the Firefox browser also silently downloads the latest update and install it on the next browser restart.
But on the other hand, Internet Explorer always nags the user to install the latest version. Giving choice to the user is always a bad idea, particularly applications like browsers which always struggles with dangerous security loopholes.
4. Microsoft Edge became rival to its own Browser
Already Internet Explorer situation is very pathetic, in such a condition Microsoft made a daring move and announced Microsoft Edge browser. Personally, I treat it as the half boiled product from Microsoft. It doesn’t provide web history, there was no extension support until a few days back, and a lot of limitations restricted the PC users to grab the latest browser.
Literally Windows users stuck up with confusion on which browser to use right now. People who are still using Windows 7 and Windows 8 are restricted to use Internet Explorer, at the same time Windows 10 users were completely migrated to Google Chrome by leaving Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft has to rethink about its future strategies. Otherwise, it will completely disappear from the minds of computer users.