Google moves away from IE6

New move from Google

In a move which could effect some businesses, Google has begun to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6 - the browser identified as the weak link in a cyber attack on the search engine.

The firm have said that from 1 March some of its services, such as Google Docs, would not work "properly" with the browser. As such, Google is recommending that firms and individuals upgrade "as soon as possible."

Google threatened to withdraw from the Chinese market following the "sophisticated and targeted" attacks, which it said originated in China.

Hackers used a flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser to target the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

Switching browsers

Following Google revealing the flaw was linked to IE6, the French and German governments advised their citizens to switch to a different browser until the hole has been closed.

To resolve the situation, Microsoft quickly updated the browser, nearly three weeks ahead of its regular security update. The new patch is available via the Microsoft Update site and will also be fed out to those who have their machines set to update automatically.

Microsoft recommended that customers of all Internet Explorers install the update as soon as possible or update to the latest version of the web browser for "improved security," the BBC state.

Despite Microsoft working to fix the problem, Google have said that it plans to phase out support for the browser "starting with Google Docs and Google Sites."

Google Docs is the firm's answer to products such as Microsoft Office, whilst Google Sites allows people to create web pages.

The online campaign ie6nomore, supported by more than 70 web firms, says that because the browser does not support modern web standards it restricts what developers can do and is "holding the web back."

Market share

Around 20 percent of web users still use the browser, which has been around for nine years. Microsoft has admitted that it has known about the vulnerability "since early September" 2009 and had planned to patch it in February.

The bad publicity has allowed rivals such as Firefox to gain market share.

According to web analytics company StatCounter, Firefox is now a close second to Internet Explorer (IE) in Europe, with 40 percent of the market compared to Microsoft's 45 percent share.

In some markets, including Germany and Austria, Firefox has overtaken IE.

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