Internet Explorer issues

Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) dates back to March 2009, and as a browser, it is not aging well. Unfortunately, it is still used in some hospitals, who are notoriously slow at upgrading software.

Not only is it unsupported by Microsoft and lacking many of the features that we have come to expect from browsers today, but more importantly it requires a disproportionate amount of effort when developing features: much time is spent in coaxing it into behaving. 

As the number of users accessing Radiopaedia.org with IE8 drops, we have decided to spend the time and energy previously wasted on IE8 specific code and testing, on new features instead. Similarly, we will progressively stop supporting more recent but nonetheless superceded versions. 

So what should you do if your hospital runs only an old unsupported version of internet explorer? Here are a few suggestions:

1. give your IT department a call, or write them an email suggesting they upgrade to a newer and more secure browser
2. upgrade to a version of IE supported by Microsoft 
3. install a second browser (this may not work depending on your user privileges) 
   1. Google Chrome
   2. Firefox
4. use a portable browser: these are great. They do not need to be installed in the usual way and will simply run out of a folder which can either live on a USB flash drive, or on the computer somewhere. Naturally, you should clear this with your local IT department. 
   1. Google Chrome Portable
   2. Firefox Portable​