Are There Any Downsides to Using Internet Explorer as Your Primary Browser?

The most popular browser in the world has been and is still Internet Explorer. While it doesn't have as much of the market as it used to a decade ago, no other browser has ever been the most popular since Internet Explorer took the top spot.

This browser is good and comes installed on Windows machines by default. Many use it because it's already installed and it works fine. While it is a quality browser, some wonder if there are downsides to using it compared to the other ones available on the market today.

Compared to other browsers available like Chrome, Firefox and Opera, Internet Explorer tends to be a bit slower. If you want speed, especially with Java on your browser, it's not the best choice. It does a good enough job, but those who want the most speed might consider using another browser.

Many pieces of adware target Internet Explorer. If you get adware on your machine, you might notice excessive popups or installed toolbars to your version if Internet Explorer where other browsers won't be as affected. This can be annoying. While an adware tool to remove the issues can make it all go away, it's still a frustrating downside that you have to deal with.

Compared to other browsers on the market, there are just not as many plugins and addons to install to Internet Explorer. For some, this might not matter. But for others who have grown used to additional features programmed by the users, you will feel like you are missing something.

The best versions of this browser are only available on the latest versions of Windows. If you use XP, you are locked out of the latest versions of the browser. Other third-party browsers still offer full support to XP or any other operating system of your choice.