Microsoft announced that beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. Internet Explorer 11 is the last version of the software, and will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important.
Internet Explorer 11 provides support for web applications developed to run with older IE versions. Users can update their IE 11 “Compatibility View settings” found under the Tools menu, and add the website(s) that fall into this category.
For all WBSCM users, in order to avoid execution issues with IE 11, you will need to add the entry “*usda.gov” to the list of Compatibility View websites as instructed in the previous paragraph.
Furthermore, users should also be sure certain Internet Security options are correctly set. To review and update your settings, open Internet Explorer, then click on the Tools icon in the taskbar, then click on Internet Options. After the dialog box opens, click the Advanced tab located in the upper right. Scroll down to the Security settings and be sure the following are checked: Use SSL 3.0, Use TLS 1.0, Use TLS 1.1, and Use TLS 1.2. The box for Use SSL 2.0 should be unchecked.
If you have any questions, please contact the AMS Help Desk at: 1-877-927-2648 or WBSCMAMSHelpDesk@ams.usda.gov