Microsoft has recently made an important announcement regarding the security of personal email accounts used on Outlook. As of September 16, users will no longer be able to sign in using Basic Authentication, which relies on a simple username and password method. Instead, Microsoft is requiring the use of Modern Authentication methods for enhanced security.
According to Microsoft, Basic Authentication, while once the standard, has become vulnerable to cyberattacks that can compromise a user’s login information. By implementing Modern Authentication, additional security measures are put in place to protect users from unauthorized access to their personal accounts.
Users who access their Outlook personal accounts through Hotmail.com, Live.com, or other supported mail and calendar apps will need to transition to Modern Authentication by the specified date. Apps such as the Outlook apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, as well as Apple Mail and Thunderbird, already support this method.
In addition to the authentication changes, Microsoft will be discontinuing the lite version of the Outlook web app on August 19, 2024. This version, accessible through older web browsers, will no longer be supported. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to end support for the old Windows Mail and Calendar apps by the end of the year.
For users who access Google Gmail accounts through Outlook.com, support will be ending by June 30. However, Gmail accounts can still be accessed through the Outlook Windows and Mac apps. Additionally, certain features like Play My Emails and Voice Search on Outlook mobile will no longer be available after the end of June.
These changes are part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to prioritize the security and protection of personal email accounts. By implementing Modern Authentication and discontinuing older, less secure methods, Microsoft aims to safeguard users from potential cyber threats and unauthorized access to their sensitive information. It is important for Outlook users to be aware of these upcoming changes and take the necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition to the new authentication measures.