Microsoft is pushing the KB5021751 update to find out how many of its customers are using an Office version that has reached its end of support or will soon be out of support.
No files will be installed on systems that receive this update, but instead, it will run once to check if the Microsoft Office installation is outdated or will soon require an upgrade.
Redmond added that no device restart would be required after installing KB5021751 via Windows Update.
The company says the goal is to determine how many customers are still using outdated Office versions.
However, the advisory doesn't mention what information the KB5021751 update will check for and what will be sent to Microsoft servers.
"This update is intended to help Microsoft identify the number of users running out-of-support (or soon to be out-of-support) versions of Office, including Office 2013, Office 2010, and Office 2007," Microsoft explains in a support document published on January 17 and first spotted by Deskmodder.
"This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user's device."
Those who don't want to install this update on their systems can follow these steps:
- Download and run the "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter from here
- Click on 'Next'
- Select the KB5021751 update
- Click on 'Next'
- Restart your device if prompted
While Office 2007 and Office 2010 have already reached their end of support years ago (in October 2017 and October 2020), Office 2013 will reach its extended support date later this year, on April 11, 2023.
After an Office version reaches the end of support, Microsoft no longer provides technical support, bug fixes, or security fixes for newly discovered bugs or security vulnerabilities.
Additionally, support content is no longer updated, and most online help content targeting the out-of-date Office versions is retired.
Microsoft recommends users of outdated Office versions download and install a free trial of its Microsoft 365 productivity and security apps suite.
A Microsoft spokesperson was not immediately available when BleepingComputer reached out earlier today for more information.
Comments
lastchancename - 1 year ago
I’m old enough to remember when I bought software, and owned it.
I’m completely sick of updating, renewing, refreshing and confirming that I own something !
Luckily, I’m old enough to ‘just stop’ using corporate software - fuch 0ff
ThomasMann - 1 year ago
That is the spirit !
But I am afraid the WEF does not like it. You are supposed to " Do not onw anything and be happy!" I am not making this up this is indeed the logo that the rich and powerful have for the future that they are dsigning for us underlings.
PS And of course Bill Gates is part of their leading crew. Check at: WEF Davos 2023
SoftwareEngineer248 - 1 year ago
The old software still works. You can continue to safely use the old versions of Office if you run them on machines which are not connected to the Internet and you only open documents you create.
All modern software needs updates. This includes open-source software like Linux. The reason is organizations and software engineers do not know how to write secure software. This is a very difficult problem to solve because it is a knowledge problem, a skill problem, a time problem and a motivation problem. There are no easy answers and there is no silver bullet.
Note writing patches costs money and takes time. That is why organizations drop support for older software versions.
Dmonder - 1 year ago
If MS has time to code nagware like this, they need to do even more layoffs!
MS needs to accept their current level of licensing revenue is what they're getting. Trying to squeeze more with Office subscriptions and semi-spyware is going to backfire.
ThomasMann - 1 year ago
Thank you for making a laugh, that is the best joke in the last weeks:
"MS needs to accept their current level of licensing revenue is what they're getting. "
For your the sake of your mental health, I hope you between 10 and 12 years old?
SoftwareEngineer248 - 1 year ago
It's better for them to tell you that you need to update to a secure Office version than to let you unknowingly run an unsafe (unsecure) version of Office. I get it that you don't want to buy a new version because it costs money and because it is different.
ThomasMann - 1 year ago
Any normal person is aware of the fact. that there is no such thing as a safe version of ANYTHING....
Who on earth would want to write malware for Office 2003 ?