Microsoft Announces Major Changes to Hotmail Accounts

Microsoft announced significant changes to free email accounts. Any users who have a Hotmail, Outlook or Live address will have to sign in using a different method than they are used to. Technological will disable basic authentication, which only requires a username and passwordadding an extra step to enhance security.

In an Outlook blog post, 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 need to add an additional security factor., such as a mobile phone number, an alternate email address, or a security token. The Redmond giant warned that this requirement will be required for login.

“While basic authentication has been the standard for some time, it has also made it easier for criminals to collect login information,” Microsoft said. “This increased the risk that stolen credentials would be reused to gain access to an individual’s email or personal data.”

With the number of cyber attacks on the rise, the technology company believes that It’s time to switch to modern authentication methods. The company says it has implemented additional processes to protect account security and prevent it from falling into the hands of third parties. The only drawback is that modern authentication requires abandoning a procedure that ordinary users have been accustomed to for decades.

What will change for Hotmail and Outlook accounts?

Logins that require only a username and password They will disappear from Hotmail, Outlook and Live on September 16, 2024.. This is because Microsoft will be disabling Basic Authentication to fully transition to modern authentication methods. If you have not registered additional security information in your account, you will receive alerts and login errors.

Microsoft suggests you download the official Outlook app or use an email client such as Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, Outlook on the web, or the Outlook desktop app included with Microsoft 365. Users will also be able to set up Exchange synchronization. although this step requires you to create a desktop profile for Outlook.

“Basic authentication is an outdated industry standard. The threats it poses are only increasing over time, and we’ve already moved away from basic authentication in many products. There are better and more efficient alternatives to authenticating users.”

Microsoft

The Outlook team has identified 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. Unless they add an extra security step – like two-step verification – they will continue to experience errors until they reach the level I can’t login in September.

Microsoft too will shut down the light version of Outlook on August 19, 2024.. This web application, intended for users of older or entry-level mobile phones, does not comply with security requirements, so you will only be able to access Outlook.com through the latest browser.