Update: Later reports indicate the study was an elaborate hoax.

(Image source: World Rumors)

BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR ALLIE SPILLYARDS

You're watching multisource tech video news analysis from Newsy. 

The saying goes -- don’t judge a book by its cover -- but what about judging a person by their web browser? Or how about -- their IQ?

NEKI MOHAN, WPLG: “A new study claims your web browser is a sign of your intelligence level. A new study claims Internet Explorer users scored lower-than-average on their IQ tests. This is compared to Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users, who tested a bit above average.”

So-called “psychometric consulting” firm AptiQuant conducted the study by giving 100,000 people online IQ tests. They also found that people using more quote- “obscure” browsers like Camino and Opera had higher IQ scores than those using the more common browsers. (Video: WTXF)

In its news release, the firm explains -- they’re just trying to figure out who’s using Internet Explorer -- and why.

“Internet Explorer has traditionally been considered a pain in the back for web developers. Any IT company involved in web development will acknowledge the fact that millions of man hours are wasted each year to make otherwise perfectly functional websites work in Internet Explorer, because of its lack of compatibility with web standards.”

And while Internet Explorer users are catching most of the headlines -- a writer for Sync found something else interesting. At the top of the IQ scores -- were also Internet Explorer users -- but the ones using a Chrome plug-in.

“AptiQuant found that people who use Internet Explorer with Google’s Chrome Frame plug-in came out more than 30 points ahead of their vanilla-IE-using cousins. The jump makes sense, since you’d expect users who understand what Chrome Frame does and choose to install it probably have a fair amount of intelligence.”

A writer for PCWorld notes -- don’t get too worked up over the study, which isn’t exactly scientific.

“Whatever the reason for these results, I wouldn't take them too seriously. They are, after all, comprised only of people who feel compelled to take IQ tests. But if you ever want to argue that Internet Explorer 6 users are too stupid to upgrade, at least now you've got some empirical evidence.”

Finally, a writer for PCMag doesn’t sound like a fan of the study or the way it has been covered -- and as he reports, he’s not alone.

“Although AptiQuant does get a little heavy-handed against Internet Explorer in its report, suggesting that the ‘nuisance’ browser should be ‘eradicated,’ the company has been quick to note that its findings only indicate a one-way relationship between IQ scores and browser use. Perhaps, in part, prompted by alleged threats of a lawsuit against the company by upset Internet Explorer fans.”

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Transcript by Newsy.