After 32 years, Microsoft has announced plans to retire the Microsoft Office brand. Microsoft 365, the new branding for its Office.com and Office cloud-based apps, will better reflect the company’s shift from a one-time purchase productivity suite to a subscription service. This change comes as part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to simplify its product line and unify its brands under the Microsoft 365 umbrella.
Microsoft Office was first released in 1990, with Microsoft bundling its popular Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications under a one-time purchase productivity suite called Microsoft Office. Later versions introduced additional programs like Outlook and OneNote.
In 2011, Microsoft began offering Office 365, a subscription service that gave users access to the latest version of Office as well as other cloud-based services.
In the present day, the plan is for Microsoft to begin phasing out the Office brand. Beginning in November 2022, the rebranding will begin to roll out for the Office app on Windows, and the Office mobile app in January 2023.
The first step in the rebranding process will be changing the name of Office Online to Microsoft 365. This change will happen automatically for users who have an active Office 365 Home or Personal subscription. For other users, the change will happen when they next sign in to their account.
After that, users can expect to see changes to the logos and icons for the various Office apps.
Additionally, the names of some of the apps will change; for example, OneNote 2016 will become simply “OneNote.”
And finally, Microsoft plans to retire the “Office” branding from its website and marketing materials altogether.
The decision to rebrand Office is a wise one that will help customers better understand Microsoft’s productivity offerings and make it easier for them to find the tools they need.This big change for Microsoft makes sense in today’s world of cloud-based computing and subscription-based software.By unifying its products under the Microsoft 365 brand, Microsoft is making it clear that Office is more than just a productivity suite—it’s a constantly evolving platform that provides users with access to the latest features and updates on an ongoing basis.We’re excited to see what Microsoft has in store for us next!
Microsoft is disabling basic authentication in random tenants worldwide starting October 1, 2022.
Since the announcement in September 2019, there have been multiple reminders and warnings from Microsoft about the move from Basic to Modern Authentication. Millions of tenants have already disabled basic authentication to protect themselves, but millions of others have not made the change.
Starting in October 2022, Microsoft will begin randomly selecting tenants and disabling their Basic Authentication access for MAPI, RPC, Offline Address Book (OAB), Exchange Web Services (EWS), POP, IMAP, Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) and Remote PowerShell. The move exists to protect their information from cyber attackers exploiting the insecure auth scheme.
Microsoft will announce the rollout seven days before commencing, posting the message to the Windows Message Centre. Each tenant will be notified via the Service Health Dashboard notifications when basic auth is disabled.
Although the rollout will disable basic authentication from October 2022, it can be temporarily re-enabled until December 2022. Re-enabling basic authentication will allow anyone who did not prepare for the change to do so before it is permanently disabled in January 2023.
Why is Microsoft disabling basic authentication?
The goal of disabling basic authentication is to improve data security as the number of cyberattacks that leverage basic auth increases.
Basic authentication or legacy authentication is an HTTP-based scheme that applications use for sending credentials in plain text to servers, endpoints or various online services.
Unfortunately, this allows cybercriminals to steal your credentials in middleman attacks over TLS and brute force attacks. they can steal text credentials from apps using basic auth via several tactics, including social engineering and info-stealing malware.
Modern authentication methods include a variety of different techniques that are all designed for increased security. Microsoft’s implementation of Open Authorization (OAuth), allows users to grant limited access rights from their mobile device without having traditional accounts on various platforms like Facebook or Google+.
OAuth access tokens can only be used to authenticate resources they are issued for.
Will this affect you?
The Depreciation of basic auth will affect a number of applications. Migrating to modern authentication will avoid disruptions when basic authentication is disabled on your tenancy. Some applications that will be affected are:
Microsoft Outlook on the Web
Microsoft Outlook for PC & Mac
Microsoft Outlook Mobile App
Mac Mail and Calendar App (10.13 High Sierra and older)
Most IMAP/POP Mail clients e.g. Thunderbird, Eudora
Android Mail
Apple iOS Mail app (iOS 10 and older)
Microsoft Office 2014 or prior
How to be prepared for this change and avoid disruptions
Administrators can disable basic authentication and allow users to use modern authentication through authentication policies. A new Authentication policy can be created and assigned to users.
Update Outlook for Windows, with the correct registry keys in place and the tenant-wide switch, is set to True (without that setting, Outlook won’t use Modern auth).
Implementing IMAP.AccessAsApp and POP.AccessAsApp permissions if you require POP/IMAP for interactive apps.
If you experience any difficulties with your Microsoft apps or need assistance changing to Modern Authentication, Key Tech can help! Call 1300 755 615or send us a message:
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Ensure you are using the latest version of your Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers because the latest update contains an emergency patch for a high-severity bug that is being exploited by hackers.
Google released a patch to fix the bug a few days ago and now Microsoft has done the same. Tracked as CVE-2022-2294, the bug is present in the Chromium browser engine, so both Chrome and Edge are affected.
Further details about the bug are being restricted for the moment to avoid supplying cyber attackers with ammunition for further attacks while users have time to patch their endpoints.
Known zero-day
“Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix,” Google said. “We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third-party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed.”
Microsoft has decided to stay tight-lipped as well. “This update contains a fix for CVE-2022-2294, which has been reported by the Chromium team as having an exploit in the wild,” the company said in the patch log.
The Edge version that has patched the bug is 103.0.1264.48. Users are urged to check and update the browser immediately.
How to Check your Edge Version
To check (and update) the version of Microsoft Edge browser you are using, click on the ellipses menu (three dots) in the top right and navigate to Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
You will see the latest version under the About heading. If you need to update, you will be notified and you can click a button to begin the update.
If you need to update, be sure to restart the browser immediately after updating.
How to Check your Google Chrome Version
To check (and update) the version of Google Chrome browser you are using, click on the ellipses menu (three dots) in the top right and navigate to Help > About Google Chrome.
You will see the latest version under the About Chrome heading. If you need to update, you will be notified and you can click a button to begin the update.
If you need to update, be sure to restart the browser immediately after updating.
Reach out if you need any assistance or have any enquiries.
Windows 11 Version 22H2, will be the most inclusively designed version yet with the new Accessibility pane. The new Accessibility pane with the human icon was designed for users to easily find and use all the built-in accessibility features tailored for your device and unique needs.
Vision Accessibility
Settings for all visual preferences.
Windows 11 allows users to customise and personalise their viewing experience in great detail.
Choose light or dark themes
Adjust screen brightness and contrast without sacrificing aesthetics
Zoom in on text
Adjust the colour of the text and mouse cursor
Customise your screen’s palette to experience a custom colour filters
Make your PC speak with Narrator
Hearing Accessibility
System-Wide Live Captions on Windows 11
New accessibility features, including system-wide live captions, are in the update to Windows 11, version 22H2, coming to Windows 11 users in the next few months.
This valuable feature is not only perfect for users with hearing difficulties but also can be used to generate subtitles in unsupported applications. Live Captions can be used to transcript audio files and translate inaudible sound. Individuals can customise visual settings on the captions to alter their text size, font, colour and background.
Live Captions process your voice data and other audio files locally, meaning your data is not shared with Microsoft servers and does not leave your device. You can read more about the System-wide Live Captions in Microsoft’s privacy statement here:
Physical disabilities make it difficult to operate a keyboard or mouse. Windows 11 has taken Accessibility to the next level enabling users to interact with their PC using a pen, voice and even with their eyes! Yes, a user will be able to control anything on the screen with a variety of eye-tracking enabled cameras and a simple-to-use launch pad (eye-tracking hardware sold separately).
Learning and Neurodiversity
Windows 11 has tools that enhance focus, attention, reading comprehension and more.
Microsoft Edge has an Immersive Reader to improve reading fluency, comprehension and focus. Adjust text spacing, remove visual clutter, or zoom in on a few lines of text at a time.
These great features are only a few of the changes you will find in the Windows 11 update (Version 22H2) which will be available to the public soon. Other features you will find are:
Windows 11 version 22H2 is the first feature update that is to be released in the next few months. The update is FREE and focuses on refining and enhancing the operating system productivity and improving tablet user experiences.
What’s new to File Explorer
Tabs support is a long-awaited and highly requested feature that will finally be available in this update.
Easy-access tabs at the top and left navigation sidebar
Easy-Access Tabs at the Top
Like a web browser, users can add a tab in File Explorer by clicking the plus ‘+’ icon and closing them with the ‘X’ icon. Users can also move a tab within the tab stripe on the title bar of File Explorer. Easily any folder in a new tab by right-clicking on the folder and selecting “open in new tab”.
Left Navigation Sidebar
The left navigation sidebar was also updated in File Explorer, promising a clean look and an easy way to navigate your favourite folders. The redesigned sidebar provides quick access to pinned and frequently used folders.
OneDrive Access
The File Explorer has more integration with OneDrive, with a new drop-down menu that appears, you can also see the exact path you are navigating to files in the address bar and you can see how much cloud storage you are using. The exact path is displayed in the address bar as you navigate to files synced to your OneDrive.
More noteworthy features that are coming soon to your Windows 11 device are:
The first major update for Windows 11, officially known as Windows 11, Version 22H2, is coming soon. The update fixes many issues that users have complained about since Windows 11 became available in 2021.
What’s new in the Start Menu
Personalise your Start Menu
One of the core areas within Windows 11 is the Start Menu. You can personalise your Start Menu by creating folders and naming them. Much like on an iPhone, you can drag an app on top of another app to make a new folder with the apps inside.
Windows 11 Start Menu – Customise your Start Menu by making folders to group your favourite apps.
In addition, you can customise your recommended section to see more pinned apps and less recommended content or more recommended content and less pinned apps.
Shortcut to Sign-in Options
A shortcut to the Sign-in options page has been added to Windows 11. Access it by clicking on the power button in the Start Menu. This shortcut will make it easy for users to adjust sign-in-related settings for Windows Hello, Security Keys Dynamic Lock and saving apps on restart.
New Start Menu Gestures for Tablet Users
Two new touch gestures for the Start Menu have been added for tablet users:
Swipe to invoke and dismiss Start: A four-finger swipe from the middle of the taskbar to open the Start menu. You can swipe back down to close it.
Swipe right to left from Pinned to get to All apps in the Start menu. You can also swipe left to right to get back to Pinned.
New Taskbar Features
Drag & Drop is Back!
There are some tweaks to the Taskbar with the return of drag and drop allows users to grab a file and drag it onto an app that is open or pinned in the taskbar to bring it to the foreground. Additionally, you can drag apps from the desktop or Start Menu to the Taskbar to create shortcuts.
Privacy Feature while Screen Sharing
Microsoft has introduced a new privacy feature that will notify users when a window is being shared during a Teams meeting. The notification is a new visual indication that will appear over the app icon in the taskbar.
Security Feature that shows users what window is being shared while screen sharing on Teams.
Adjust Volume by Scrolling Mouse
Another function in the Windows 11 update to the taskbar is the ability to change the volume by scrolling your mouse wheel on the volume icon in the taskbar’s system tray area. There are also more subtle app notifications too.
New Icons in the System Tray
You will notice some new icons in the Taskbar system tray on your laptop or desktop configured with more than one colour profile. On a laptop, a new lighting bolt icon will appear when your battery is charging.
While casting, a “Cast” icon will show for Quick access to settings
When you are casting to a display, a “Cast” icon will appear in the lower-left corner of your taskbar to indicate you are casting. Clicking the icon will open casting settings which allow you to quickly stop the stream.
Windows key + ALT + K will now mute your microphone in compatible apps like Teams or Zoom. A notification for it will pop up above the Taskbar.
Some more notable features that are coming soon to your Windows 11 device are:
