Microsoft announced significant changes to free email accounts. All users who have a Hotmail, Outlook, or Live address will have to log in in a different way than they are used to. The technological will disable basic authentication that only requires username and passwordadding an extra step to strengthen security.
In a post on the Outlook blog, Microsoft detailed that starting September 16, 2024, all personal email accounts must use modern authentication methods. This means that the addresses @hotmail.com, @live.com and @outlook.com will be required to add an additional security factor, such as a mobile number, an alternate email address, or a security token. The Redmond giant warned that this requirement will be essential to log in.
“While basic authentication was the standard for quite some time, it also made it easier for criminals to capture a person’s login information,” Microsoft stated. “This increased the risk that those stolen credentials would be reused to gain access to a person’s email or personal data.”
With the number of cyber attacks on the rise, the technology company believes that It’s time to migrate to modern authentication methods. The company states that they have implemented additional processes to protect the security of the account and prevent it from falling into the hands of a third party. The only drawback is that modern authentication requires leaving aside a procedure that ordinary users have been accustomed to for decades.
What will change in Hotmail and Outlook accounts?
Logins that only require username and password They will disappear from Hotmail, Outlook and Live on September 16, 2024. This is because Microsoft will disable basic authentication to fully migrate to modern authentication methods. If you have not registered additional security data in your account, you will receive alerts and login failures.
Microsoft suggests that you download the official Outlook app or use an email client such as Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, the web version of Outlook, or the Outlook desktop app that comes included with Microsoft 365. Users will also be able to configure Exchange synchronization , although this step requires creating a desktop profile for Outlook.
“Basic authentication is an outdated industry standard. The threats it poses have only increased over time, and we have already deprecated basic authentication in many products. There are better, more effective user authentication alternatives.”
Microsoft
The Outlook team defined a transition period that begins today with the announcement. All users with Hotmail, Outlook or Live accounts will receive an email notifying them of the change. If they don’t add an additional security step — like two-step verification — they will experience errors until they reach the level of unable to log in in september.
Microsoft too will close the light version of Outlook on August 19, 2024. This web app, intended for users with older or entry-level mobile phones, does not meet security requirements, so you will only be able to access Outlook.com through a recent browser.
