Microsoft needs everybody to know that it’s not trying to invade their privateness whereas trying by their Home windows PCs to seek out out-of-date variations of Workplace software program.
In its KB5021751 replace final month, Microsoft included a plan to scan Home windows methods to smoke out these Workplace variations which might be not supported or nearing the top of help. These embody Workplace 2007 (which noticed help finish in 2017) and Workplace 2010 (in 2020) and the 2013 construct (this coming April).
The corporate confused that it could run just one time and wouldn’t set up something on the consumer’s Home windows system, including that the file for the replace is scanned to make sure it isn’t contaminated by malware and is saved on extremely safe servers to forestall unauthorized modifications to it.
The replace brought about some dialogue amongst customers, no less than sufficient to persuade Microsoft to make one other pitch that it’s respecting consumer privateness and will not entry non-public information regardless of scanning their methods.
The replace collects diagnostic and efficiency information in order that it might probably decide the usage of numerous variations of Workplace and the way to finest help and repair them, the software program maker wrote in an expanded notice this week. The replace will silently run as soon as to gather the information and no information are left on the consumer’s methods as soon as the scan is accomplished.
“This information is gathered from registry entries and APIs,” it wrote. “The replace doesn’t collect licensing particulars, buyer content material, or information about non-Microsoft merchandise. Microsoft values, protects, and defends privateness.”
Microsoft then offers a hyperlink to the corporate’s privateness web page for additional studying.
The extra detailed rationalization tries to handle a number of the shortcomings of the unique replace discover that we detailed, together with the way it will collect the data concerning the Workplace variations being run, every other system info being collected through the replace, and if something is left behind after the replace is accomplished.
Microsoft is delivering the replace to customers who’ve opted to obtain updates for its merchandise and who’ve Workplace 2007, 2010, or 2013 put in. Customers who’re squeamish about this scan can obtain the Present or Conceal Updates troubleshooter for Home windows 10 and 11, which together with disabling updates that repeatedly fail to put in or are inflicting different issues.
Customers will not need to restart their methods after the replace is put in, in keeping with Redmond. ®
