This week’s article comes courtesy of our Systems department, which is currently making great efforts to upgrade and enhance Tower Hill’s RPM (Rating & Policy Management) agent portal. In the process, we’ve discovered that a significant number of RPM users are using outdated – or soon to be outdated – web browsers, so we felt it prudent to share some very compelling reasons to keep your browser software up to date. . . .
It seems that as the Internet continues to evolve, and innovators push the boundaries of what can be done on the Web, there will always be a barrier to good UX (user-experience): the outdated browser.
Outdated browsers are slower, more likely to crash, and more vulnerable to viruses and other malware. They also have limited support for modern web technologies like HTML5 and CSS3. These standards are the foundation of what is commonly called Web 2.0, and many websites rely on these technologies to offer a more dynamic, interactive experience for the user.
For many companies, the return on investment for continuing to support customers using older browsers has dropped below the increasing costs of doing so. Internet Explorer 8, for example, while still in fairly common use, is no longer fully supported by various Google applications (Google Docs, Gmail, You Tube), WordPress.com, or Disqus.com (a widely-used comment engine).
Three Reasons to Upgrade Your Browser
Even if your browser is currently supported by all your favorite websites, there are still compelling reasons to upgrade to the latest version:
Enhanced Security
Perhaps the most compelling reason to keep your browser up to date is security. In the same way that operating systems need to be patched and updated to fix potential security holes, browsers should go through regular updates to ensure they’re not left vulnerable to exploits. Additionally, recent browsers provide a variety of tools for helping users identify and avoid common scams and attacks that might steal their data or harm their computer.
Next-Generation Content
Using a modern browser gives you access to the latest and greatest the web has to offer. Web 2.0 technologies have enabled websites to deliver content that is more accessible and engaging, resulting in a better overall experience for users. In recent iterations, all major browsers have taken steps to support these standards.
Increased Performance
Content creators are moving more and more functionality into the browser to provide a user experience that rivals the speed and responsiveness of native desktop applications. However, for users with outdated browsers, this can have the opposite effect, rendering their browser sluggish or completely unresponsive. Upgrading your browser can significantly increase performance and reduce waiting-time.
How to Upgrade
Luckily, upgrading to a modern browser is easy and free! Popular choices include the latest Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. For those users who can’t install or upgrade software on their machine, Chrome Frame is another viable option.