Which browser's decline has led to a decrease in exploit kits?

The decline of Internet Explorer has significantly contributed to a decrease in exploit kits for several reasons. Internet Explorer has historically been one of the most targeted browsers for cyber attacks due to its popularity and widespread use in enterprise environments. Many exploit kits were developed specifically to take advantage of vulnerabilities found in this browser, which made it a lucrative target for cybercriminals.

As Microsoft shifted its focus to newer browsers, particularly Edge, and as organizations and users have started to migrate away from Internet Explorer, the potential attack surface for exploit kits has shrunk. With fewer users running Internet Explorer, it becomes less appealing for attackers to develop and distribute exploit kits targeting this browser, leading to a general decline in these malicious tools in the ecosystem.

Additionally, security improvements in both Windows operating systems and the newer Edge browser have made it harder for exploit kits to succeed, further contributing to the reduced activity observed. Thus, the decline of Internet Explorer correlates strongly with the decrease in exploit kits, emphasizing the browser's past influence on the cyber threat landscape.