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Qualys announced BrowserCheck on July 19, 2010, as a free web-based service for consumers and corporate users. It checked browser and plug-in versions for possible vulnerabilities and outdated software. Its launch-era Windows-only limitation is not its current listed scope: Qualys now lists supported browsers for both Windows and macOS.

What Qualys announced in July 2010

SecurityWeek reported that Qualys had launched BrowserCheck as a free service users could access through a browser URL. The goal was to identify browser and associated plug-in versions that might be vulnerable or out of date. SecurityWeek’s July 19, 2010 report described the service as intended for both consumers and corporate users.

Qualys chairman and CEO Philippe Courtot argued that plug-ins were often overlooked during updates and could create security exposure. The article quoted him saying that “Almost 100 percent” of surveyed browsers had plug-ins installed, but gave no sample size, survey date, or methodology. That figure is therefore an attributed claim from the launch announcement, not independently verifiable prevalence data. The launch report also quoted Gartner analyst Avivah Litan on the growing threat of browser-based attacks and plug-in flaws.

What the launch-era scan checked

The 2010 report said BrowserCheck examined browsers and plug-ins for possible vulnerabilities and outdated versions. The named plug-ins were Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader, QuickTime, Silverlight, and Windows Media Player. These names describe the service’s launch-era checks; they should not be read as a current inventory of what BrowserCheck scans. SecurityWeek’s account is the source for that original list.

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Launch support compared with Qualys’s current listing

At launch, the report described BrowserCheck as supporting Windows. Mac users were said to receive a “Browser not Supported” message. That was a July 2010 limitation, not a statement about present support. Qualys’s current personal-tool page lists full scanning for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome on Windows, and Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on macOS. Qualys’s BrowserCheck page provides the current browser and platform listing.

Scope Launch-era description (2010) Qualys listing accessed October 4, 2026
Platforms Windows supported; Mac users received “Browser not Supported” Windows and macOS listed
Browsers Browser scans were described, but the report did not give a browser-by-browser list Windows: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome; macOS: Safari, Chrome, Firefox
Components and findings Browser and plug-in versions checked for potential vulnerabilities and outdated software; named plug-ins included Flash Player, Reader, QuickTime, Silverlight, and Windows Media Player Qualys describes browser and plug-in analysis, system checks, and recommended actions; the cited current pages do not establish an identical plug-in list or unchanged scan behavior

What BrowserCheck is described as doing today

Qualys currently presents BrowserCheck as a free service for keeping browsers and computers current with plug-ins, security settings, and patches. Its live service page describes browser and plug-in analysis, system checks, recommended actions, and scan options. The Qualys free-services page lists BrowserCheck among its tools, and the Qualys status page lists it under Free Services as of October 4, 2026.

These current listings do not prove that every feature, supported configuration, or interface detail has remained the same since 2010. In particular, the current pages do not establish the precise present-day plug-in inventory or whether every scan option works without an installed extension. Check the live BrowserCheck page for its available scan choices rather than assuming the launch process still applies.

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How to use this information if you want to check a browser

  1. Open Qualys’s BrowserCheck page and review the supported browser and platform information there.
  2. Choose one of the scan options offered on the live service page. Qualys describes browser and plug-in analysis as well as system checks, but its current description does not establish that every option is extension-free.
  3. Review the reported findings and recommended actions. The service is presented as a way to identify issues and keep software current; the cited pages do not independently verify scan effectiveness or guarantee future availability.

BrowserCheck’s original premise was that outdated browser components could leave users exposed. Qualys’s 2010 report framed that as a risk for both individuals and corporate clients, while the service’s current listing broadens the description to include settings, patches, and system checks. Browser and plug-in ecosystems change, so the historical plug-in examples and support limitation should be kept separate from Qualys’s current product information.

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