Microsoft makes April update mandatory for IE11 on Windows 7

ComputerWorld reports Microsoft will quietly stopping to serve security updates to Internet Explorer 11 on Windows 7 systems that have not successfully applied an April update for the browser. It's unknown why Microsoft decided to do this but unless you have the prerequisite MS14-018 update for IE11 on Windows 7 installed, you will no longer automatically receive updates for IE11 nor will you get a message that there are new updates available for the browser.

Microsoft's support bulletins and other documents make for dense reading, but put in plain English, Microsoft is saying that unless IE11 on Windows 7 is upgraded with the April 8 update, it's lost patching privileges. The only way to regain access to IE11 patches is to download and install MS14-018.

The same rule will come into effect for enterprises and other large organizations on Aug. 12. Until then, IE11 on Windows 7 will be patched, even if the April upgrade has not been applied. Starting with fixes to IE11 issued in August, however, businesses using WSUS (Windows Server Update Services), Intune or System Center Configuration Manager will be cut off if they haven't upgraded IE11 using April's MS14-018.