Believe it or not there are, in fact, people out there who use Internet Explorer (IE) as their internet browser of choice. Which is why it’s important they (whoever they are) pay close attention to the following: Microsoft has stopped supporting versions 8, 9 and 10 of it’s much maligned browser.

That’s not to say anyone running those versions of IE is going to suddenly find their browser doesn’t work, but rather that Microsoft — as of yesterday, 12 January 2016 — won’t be bothering with any further security updates to them. Which means anyone running IE 8, 9 or 10 is suddenly not only a target for tech aficionados’ derision, but for those with malicious intent.

In other words, running those versions of IE will be akin to painting a target on your back beneath a sticker that reads “I <3 Malware”. So don’t do it.

What can you do aside from moving your browsing to a rival, more secure offering like Google’s Chrome or Mozilla’s Firefox? If you haven’t already you can update, of course. The giant of Redmond will continue supporting IE 11 (the last version of IE there’ll ever be) for those using it on Windows 7 or later until the end of each operating system’s respective lifecycle.

Also, there’s always Microsoft’s shiny new Edge browser to consider. Edge comes standard with Windows 10 and includes support for Microsoft’s voice-recognising software Cortana.

Now we don’t for a minute imagine that you, esteemed reader of Stuff, are likely to be running so antiquated a version of IE, if you’re running it at all. But there might be someone in your life — a grandparent, a colleague, the doorman at a friend’s apartment block who plays Solitaire all day — who is. Be a pal and let them know, won’t you?