Millions urged to act NOW over huge Microsoft Office hack risk

MICROSOFT has issued an urgent warning for its millions of users as the tech giant is planning to phase out support for Office 2013.

The Redmond, Washington-based computer company notified its customers on Wednesday that its Office 2013 application will no longer receive support after April 2023.

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“After five years of Mainstream Support, and five years of Extended Support, Office 2013 will reach the End of Extended Support on April 11, 2023,” Microsoft officials said in a statement.

“Per the Fixed Lifecycle Policy, after this date security updates for Office 2013 will no longer be available,” they added.

Microsoft added that after Office 2013 support reaches its end, anyone still running the software may face security risks.

“The continued use of Office 2013 after April 2023 may increase your organization’s exposure to security risks or impact your ability to meet compliance obligations,” the company said.

Services that are likely to be halted for Office 2013 include technical tune-ups, bug fixes, and security patches.

Users who connect to Microsoft 365 with an Office 2013 client may also experience performance or reliability issues.

“Since October 2020, Office 2013 is not a supported client to connect to Microsoft 365 services,” the company said.

Microsoft added that client versions of Office that are currently supported for connecting to Microsoft 365 (and Office 365) include Microsoft 365 Apps, Office LTSC 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016.

What to do if you use Office 2013

Users are advised to upgrade to Microsoft 365 apps to reduce their risk of potential security issues and breaches.

Microsoft 365 apps “are designed to receive regular updates, and will help you stay current by getting security updates and our latest features,” the company said.

They also suggested that organizations that require a static product switch to Office LTSC 2021.

“When evaluating your options, keep in mind the end of support dates for Office clients connecting to Microsoft 365 services,” Microsoft stated.

Users can find more information on available Microsoft plans and software compatibility here.