Major Security Update for Outlook: New Sign-In Methods Required Starting September 16

Heads up, Outlook users: starting September 16, Microsoft will no longer support the old username and password method, known as Basic Authentication, for signing into personal Outlook accounts. This change aims to enhance security and protect your email and personal data from cyberattacks.

In a recent blog post, Microsoft announced that users, including those with Hotmail.com and Live.com addresses, will need to access their accounts through supported mail or calendar apps or the Outlook.com website. These platforms use Modern Authentication methods, which provide an extra layer of security through additional backend processes and tokens.

Microsoft explained, "While Basic Auth was the standard for quite some time, it also made it easier for bad actors to capture login information, increasing the risk of stolen credentials being reused to access personal data."

This update also marks the end of the lite version of the Outlook web app on August 19, 2024, and support for old Windows Mail and Calendar apps by the end of this year. Additionally, support for accessing Google Gmail accounts via Outlook.com will end on June 30, though they will still be accessible through Outlook Windows and Mac apps. Outlook mobile users will also lose the Play My Emails and Voice Search features at the end of June.

If you are an Outlook user, stay ahead of these changes and ensure your email security by switching to Modern Authentication methods now.