Microsoft has reminded Internet Explorer users that it will imminently end support for older versions of its browser from next week.

The software giant plans to hit the kill switch on IE 8, 9, and 10 on January 12, and it has been advising users to upgrade to Internet Explorer 11, or its new Edge browser, to avoid being exposed to potential security risks after that date.

From next Tuesday, Microsoft will end updates for the aged browsers and the nudge brigade from the Redmond camp is in full, sharp elbow mode to encourage users to swiftly upgrade to IE 11 or Edge. There will be one last patch on January 12 that will include an "End of Life" notification, asking users to upgrade.

Microsoft added that it would offer up guidance to large firms with 500+ employees to help them deploy its latest browsers. Smaller businesses, meanwhile, should seek help from a Microsoft Certified Partner, while home PC users are on their own.

Put another way, if consumers don't have automatic updates switched on by default on their PCs, then their browsers will be that little bit more vulnerable until they do hit the upgrade button, Microsoft said.