Advertisement

IE users not dumb after all

It's OK Internet Explorer users - it turns out that you're not the dummies after all.

Last week, a study released by Canadian "company" AptiQuant claimed that users of Internet Explorer had a lower IQ than those who used other web browsers.

However, the company has now revealed that the "research" was actually a hoax.

That didn't stop a number of major news organisations from taking the story seriously.

As it turns out, AptiQuant was not a real company and the website set up to represent it was a fake.

The man behind the prank, computer programmer Tarandeep Gill, said he didn't mean to offend anyone and was just trying to put focus on the failings of Internet Explorer 6.

"This was not a cheap publicity stunt, but an honest effort to create awareness about the incompatibilities of IE versions 6.0 to 8.0," he said.

"In the end, I would once again like to apologise to IE users who felt insulted, and to Central Test for copying their stuff without permission."

Gill used profile pictures from genuine psychometric testing company Central Test to show the "employees" of the bogus company on its website.

Central Test has been distancing itself from the elaborate hoax.

"Central Test noticed the fraudulent use of its identity by AptiQuant, a Canadian company and deny any direct or indirect link with the above mentioned company," it said.

Related: Battle of the browsers

"Central Test, as a qualified online psychometric test publisher, also declines to be the source or the author of the study published on the 'Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Browser Usage'.

"Central Test is investigating the issue and we reserve any rights to pursue legal action against AptiQuant, or whoever is behind this."