Internet Explorer 6 is the Web browser that just won’t die. The browser, which shipped with Windows XP in 2001, continues to be used by a substantial minority of Internet users.

But now signs are the browser, which once dominated the market with over 85% market share, is finally on its way out. First National Bank announced on Wednesday that its online banking clients would no longer be able to use its Web facilities using the outdated browser.

“Access will be blocked via this browser as it offers outdated security features and is no longer widely used for Internet access,” says FNB Online CEO Lee-Anne van Zyl.

The bank’s decision to stop supporting IE6 follows a recent call by Microsoft, which developed the browser, for users to upgrade to IE8, the current release of the browser. A new version, IE9, will be released soon. The software giant has created the website ie6countdown.com to encourage users to upgrade.

In recent years, all versions of Microsoft’s browser has lost significant market share to rival software, particularly Firefox, developed by the open-source Mozilla Foundation, and Chrome, which is made by Google. — Staff reporter, TechCentral