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Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
January 17, 2023, update for Office 2013, Office 2010, and Office 2007 (KB5021751)
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. This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user’s device…
This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user’s device…
Except for KB5021751, of course. Does it then uninstall itself after phoning home?
I note that the quote is under a Improvements and fixes heading. I see neither.
If you upgrade your Office 2010 to Office 2013 Microsoft wants to know so as to send you some ads about Microsoft 365…
So, for all the people who don’t send metrics to MS, they are implementing a backdoor via Windows Update? Sounds about right.
It’s fascinating to me that clearly they do NOT already have this info. You would think they would.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
Beeping computer article about this update.
I found this quote from their article very interesting.
Microsoft recommends users of outdated Office versions download and install a free trial of its Microsoft 365 productivity and security apps suite.
I’m willing to bet MS will use the info they gather to “push” notifications to users of older Office versions telling them they need to update to Microsoft 365.
probably the last version of Microsoft Office that did everything I wanted (including no ribbon) and *nothing* more. 🙂
Exactly why I’ve never bothered to upgrade to a newer version… that and the fact I was able to buy it at an “educational discount” from the college’s student store for $129 vs the “full retail” $499 price!
Had it pop up in my list of available downloads yesterday morning and, after finding the quote @Alex5723 mentioned when looking for what it was for, immediately hid it on both my PC’s and my Uncle’s 6 PC’s!
I see absolutely no reason to allow MS to “snoop” even more about how I use my PC than they already do with the security only level of telemetry I’ve allowed them.
What OS’s and was it pushed or offered?
Win10 Pro 22H2 and it showed up as a regular Windows update (i.e. pushed) not an optional update so, if I didn’t have “automatic updates” disabled, Windows would have immediately downloaded and ran it.
Also, since the description states…
This update will run one time silently without installing anything on the user’s device
…I “assume” that, like other run once updates that don’t install anything, it doesn’t get recorded in the list of installed updates which means users will never know Microsoft “hijacked” this info from their PC’s.
Just FYI, even though I hid it, it does not show up in my list of hidden updates; which probably means it’ll get offered to me again.
BTW, the “installed” version of Office on my PC is MS Office 97 Pro so I’ve never actually been offered any Office updates!
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