Microsoft published a few details about the Office count after sharp user criticism: The group wanted to determine the number of packages still installed in 2007, 2010 and 2013 in order to find out how the developers could “best provide them with support and services”. The two older versions are no longer receiving updates, for Office 2013 this is due from April.
Microsoft: At the forefront of privacy
Microsoft hid the fact that KB5021751 is quietly investigating whether an old Office is installed on a system in the Windows updates. How this should happen and why the provider is interested in it at all remained unclear. Now it is clear: It should be done via “registry entries and APIs” without leaving any traces on the user’s computer.
Furthermore, no data on licenses, user information or third-party products would be collected. As Microsoft in the updated Details on KB5021751 states, the group would privacy [seiner Kunden] value, protect and defend. In addition, it is now clear that all users will receive the update if they have activated updates for other Microsoft products under Windows.
Caution: Old software is old
In the details of the update, Microsoft emphasizes that the old Office versions posed a potential security risk. In addition, they have long-term performance and reliability problems to complain about. However, what exactly these should consist of is not clear from the entry.
Furthermore, it is still unclear how Microsoft intends to react. Technically, there is nothing wrong with releasing patches for important security gaps for software that is officially unsupported – but the company does not promise that. Only after the count do the Redmonders want to think about the best way, which could just as well consist of an upgrade offer to the current Office 2021 or Microsoft 365.
(fo)
