With the discovery of a huge security hole in an outdated version of the SSL protocol, Internet Explorer 6 has received one more nail in it’s proverbial coffin. Google just released a report detailing the new SSL security hole they have named POODLE.
Since the last version of IE 6 was released in 2006, the world has moved on to more secure standards, like Transport Layer Security (TLS). In fact IE 6 will soon be the only “major” browser that still supports the aging, and now insecure, SSL 3.0 protocol.
Many website owners continue to support the old SSL 3.0 protocol to ensure that the few users still stuck on IE 6 are not left out. But that time is coming to an end.
Google’s Chrome will disable SSL 3.0 in the coming weeks, and Firefox will follow later in November.
Sometime very soon the internet will simply stop working for the few people still using Internet Explorer 6. And it’s about time. Even Microsoft will be happy.
It’s not often that we encourage you to stop using one of our products, but for #IE6, we’ll make an exception: http://bit.ly/g0wt4m
— Microsoft (@Microsoft) March 4, 2011
Web designers have long since abandoned IE 6 in their programming and usability tests. The user base (and the huge limitations IE 6 places on web design) was just not large enough to bother. With this latest bug it seems like IE 6’s days may finally be over.
