Microsoft has been trying to get users of Windows to upgrade to more advanced versions of its Internet Explorer web browser. In 2011, it launched its own effort to get people to stop using IE 6. In January, the company celebrated the fact that IE 6 use was down to less than one percent of all web browsers in the US.

Now a new, and apparently grass roots, effort has launched to get Internet users to upgrade their browsers to at least the level of IE 9. The effort is being led by a group, Go Dark For IE, which is trying to get websites to go dark on October 26th (the same day as Microsoft plans to launch Windows 8 for regular consumers) for users of web browsers below that of IE 9.

In a statement on their website, the group says:

The problem is some users just don't upgrade! And the reasons is very simple, some just don't care, some don't know how to, and some can't because of their IT department. In any case, as long as old versions of a browser remain the default on a computer, people will use it and developers will be forced to continue to develop for it. It's not just about getting a site working cross-browser, long term catering for older browsers means new technologies are not used to their full potential or not at all, and this is holding back the web for many people.

The effort isn't just focusing on Internet Explorer. The site also has links to download Google's Chrome, Mozilla's Firefox and the Opera web browser, all of which have current versions that have much of the same features as IE 9. There's also a link to Apple's Safari browser but, as we have reported before, Apple just launched a new version of Safari for Mac users; it's unclear when, or even if, it will be launched for Windows.

The group that's organizing this effort is a bit of a mystery but we have contacted them to find out any more information about their efforts, including if they have any official backing from Microsoft.

Thanks to Cameron for the tip!

Source: Go Dark for IE website | Image via Go Dark for IE