Last Firefox Version for Windows XP, Vista Released

By Edward Leano, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, March 09, 2017

Firefox released its latest version of Firefox, and it is a milestone release for a few reasons. Most notably, the new Firefox 52 will be the final version of the Firefox browser that will support Windows XP and Vista.

Fortunately for the users who want to hold on to their Windows XP and Vista operating systems (OSs), the new Firefox 52 is an Extended Support Release version, according to a report by Ars Technica. While the new browser will not be receiving any more new features, security updates and fixes will continue to make the browser secure for about one more year.

This means Windows XP and Vista holdouts will continue to have a current browser with the latest security updates for about a year, but then they will have to move on if they don't want to use an unpatched and vulnerable browser and OS. Microsoft has already dropped support for Windows XP since April 8, 2014, and Windows Vista will soon be left out in the cold after extended support stops on April 11, 2017.

Google's Chrome browser has also since moved on when it dropped Windows XP and Windows Vista support in April 2016, leaving Firefox as the last major actively maintained, modern browser for the older OSs.

With Windows XP no longer getting updates in almost three years now, and Windows Vista about to drop from active maintenance in a month, software makers have been leaving these platforms behind. These include browser makers, especially in a field where up-to-date security is a large part of the work involved in maintaining a modern browser.

The Internet Explorer versions for these older OSs has long been relegated to legacy status, and Opera has already launched its last Windows XP and Windows Vista version all the way back in February of last year, according to G Hacks. Still, a sizable eight percent of the desktop market are staying with the older platforms, Softpedia reports.