Internet Browser Updates Needed for Access to Motor Vehicle Division Systems
Our records indicate that many licensing offices are not using the latest version of Internet Explorer (IE11) to access Motor Vehicle Division systems.
According to Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/WindowsForBusiness/End-of-IE-support):
“Beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical supports and security updates. Internet Explorer 11 is the last version of Internet Explorer, and will continue to receive security updates, compatibility fixes, and technical support on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. […] It means you should take action. After January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer. Security updates patch vulnerabilities that may be exploited by malware, helping to keep users and their data safer. Regular security updates help protect computers from malicious attacks, so upgrading and staying current is important. [...] Businesses that are governed by regulatory obligations such as HIPAA should conduct due diligence to assess whether they are still able to satisfy compliance requirements using unsupported software.”
The State Office of Information Technology policy 330-01 (http://www.oit.alabama.gov/Documents/300/OIT_Policy_330_Software_Use.pdf) provides that the State of Alabama must maintain a secure IT environment, which includes operating only legally licensed and vendor-supported software on state systems when accessing state networks, and keeping those systems updated.
Please note that the vehicle owner/registrant data that is often shared between licensing offices and the Motor Vehicle Division is protected under the federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).
As an alternative, Chrome, Firefox or Edge (if using Windows 10) can be used to access Motor Vehicle Division systems, however, these will need to be current, vendor supported versions that receive regular security updates as well.
The Motor Vehicle Division will continue to monitor the internet browsers being used to access Motor Vehicle Division systems to ensure compliance with this issue in a timely manner.
- Motor Vehicle Division